New Delhi: In a statement that can generate political heat, Hindu fundamentalist outfit Hindu Mahasabha on Friday urged divorced Muslim women across India to embrace Hinduism “in order to get justice.”

“If the law is not able to help the Muslim women who have been divorced by their husbands by way of ‘triple talaq’, or if the system fails to implement the Uniform Civil Code, then the women who are the victims of such divorce are welcome to visit my place,” Hindu Mahasabha general secretary Dr Pooja Shakun Pandey told media.

She made the statement after conducting a programme on empowerment of Muslim women.

“I will convert those victimised Muslim women to Hinduism and arrange their marriage. You come and accept Hinduism and I will be happy to arrange your marriage and perform the auspicious ‘kanyadan’ (giving away of daughter) custom,” she added.

Hindu Mahasabha members also took an oath to pressurise the government and the Supreme Court to abolish the Muslim practice of ‘triple talaq.’

“If our government and law cannot ensure justice to you, we will ensure it. I would treat all such women as my daughters and ensure self-respect and dignity to them,” Pandey stated.

Several Muslim women rights activists slammed the Hindu Mahasabha, accusing it of exploiting the issue to promote conversions.

“Amid the raging debate over ban on triple talaq, comes this bizarre solution by Hindu Mahasabha. The statement by the outfit clearly demonstrates their mala fide intention. They are simply interested in religious conversions. They are now milking the issue of ‘triple talaq’ and poisoning the minds of such Muslim women,” Dr Farhana Rashid, general secretary, All India Muslim Women Rights, said.

Significantly, next month, the senior judges of the apex Supreme Court (SC) will hear petitions by several Muslim women who have complained of being divorced on social media and applications such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

A five-judge Constitution Bench will sit during the court’s summer vacation and examine the question whether the right to religion gives sanction to practices like ‘triple talaq.’

The central government believes that ‘triple talaq’ is a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and does not form a part of the “essential religious practices” in Islam.

However, the Muslim Personal Law Board believes that the court cannot interfere in matters of faith.

Importantly, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had on Wednesday set up a special task force that will meet Muslim women across the state to ascertain their views on the practice of ‘triple talaq.’

The state government will then table the majority view of the Muslim women before the SC Constitutional bench.