As the triple talaq bill was passed with 303 votes in favour, the Congress, Janata Dal (United) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs staged a walkout to protest against the bill, which criminalises instant divorce.
KRC TIMES Desk
With voting mostly in favour, the triple talaq bill was passed on Thursday 25th July, in Lok Sabha. The Congress staged a walkout as a protest as the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 was passed with the greatest number of voice votes in favour of the legislation.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that the Parliament session has been extended till August 7.
Lok Sabha on Thursday took up for consideration the bill to ban and make the practice of instant triple talaq illegal. Adding on to three years in jail for the husband. While moving the triple talaq bill for consideration, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the legislation was needed for gender equality and justice. Muslim women are being divorced by “talaq-e-biddat” despite the August 2017 Supreme Court verdict, striking down the instant divorce.
As many as 574 triple talaq cases have surfaced since the Supreme Court order. More than 300 such cases were reported by the media. There have been 345 cases of triple talaq after the judgment till July 24.
The Supreme Court had noted that 20 Islamic countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia had outlawed Triple Talaq. The minister mentioned if the countries could do it, why is it that a secular country like India cannot do?
“The Supreme Court has said that Triple Talaq is arbitrary and unconstitutional and asked Parliament to make a law. When we come up with a law, it is opposed. What should our Muslim women do in this situation? Should our Muslim sisters be left [in this situation]?” asked Ravi Shankar Prasad, adding, “The Indian Constitution is equal for all daughters. So, the bill is needed.”
JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh said his party believed the triple talaq bill would cause harm to the society. During the arguments and suggestions, Congress Kishanganj MP Mohammad Jawed also opposed the triple talaq bill and said –
“The Bill which has been tabled is another way to jail Muslims… I oppose this Bill and request the minister to send this Bill to the standing committee for review and make laws for separated women of all communities, not just Muslims”.
