Took 1,300 yrs to see ills of triple talaq: Sushma Swaraj

Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said it took 1,300 years for triple talaq to become a social concern in the country.

Swaraj was answering questions at a direct dialogue programme 'Townhall,' organised by the BJP here on Saturday as part of its political campaign, ahead of the Assembly polls, to address issues related to women.

Replying to Ahmedabad resident Ayesha Javed Khambhatwala's question — why it took 70 years for triple talaq to become a matter of social concern — Swaraj said, "When an issue is attached with votebank politics, it becomes difficult to resolve it. It was India's misfortune that a party that remained in power for 70 years did not think this was a burning issue. But better late than never."

"Today, hundreds and thousands of women in India have got relief from this inhuman system," Swaraj said.

Responding to a question about Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Swaraj said,"Terrorism can be solved in two ways — strategic and warfare. We succeeded in putting international pressure on Pakistan, and that was strategic method. While surgical strike was warfare that India conducted to teach Pakistan a lesson."

Stressing about the importance of the development of women, Swaraj said every woman should have security, self-respect and empowerment. Expressing her deep concern about female foeticide, Swaraj said in India, during Navratri, a small girl child takes the form of Durga, and it is the same society that kills a foetus if it's a girl.

Sushma answered a total of 17 questions.