Rajya Sabha, on the 30th of July, approved the Triple Talaq Bill, 2019, which was introduced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP,) the ruling Government of India (GoI.)
On the 25th of July, the BJP tabled the Bill in the Lok Sabha and passed it with a majority of 303 votes in favour.
According to the Triple Talaq Bill, 2019, officially known as the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019, repeating the word ‘talaq’ three times to divorce a Muslim woman is an offence which will lead to imprisonment. Any person who does so orally, face to face or through any social media platform, is punishable under the Bill.
Arguing in the Rajya Sabha, Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Minister of Law and Justice of India, said, “India is a secular country. In 2013, triple talaq victims moved (the) Supreme Court and the Supreme Court decided it is arbitrary and unconstitutional. What is declared wrong in the Quran cannot be valid in our law.”
Although the National Democratic ALliance (NDA) is a minority in the Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 99 votes, whereas the parties opposing the bill were defeated by 84 votes.
According to sources, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Janata Dal (United) (JD[U]) walked out of the Sabha without voting, due to which, the votes against the Bill were reduced by 19.
Before the Triple Talaq Bill was passed, the Indian National Congress (INC) opposed it and asked the members to send the Bill to a parliamentary Select Committee for scrutiny. The decision to send to the Committee was decided by votes and was rejected after 99 were against the motion and only 84 supported it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and expressed his happiness, stating, “An archaic and medieval practice has finally been confined to the dustbin of history!”
तीन तलाक बिल का पास होना महिला सशक्तिकरण की दिशा में एक बहुत बड़ा कदम है। तुष्टिकरण के नाम पर देश की करोड़ों माताओं-बहनों को उनके अधिकार से वंचित रखने का पाप किया गया। मुझे इस बात का गर्व है कि मुस्लिम महिलाओं को उनका हक देने का गौरव हमारी सरकार को प्राप्त हुआ है।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 30, 2019
The approval of the Bill marked a significant day for the BJP led Government of India.
मैं @narendramodi सरकार का क़ानून मंत्री हूँ राजीव गांधी सरकार का नहीं। न्याय के लिए हम मुस्लिम महिलाओं के साथ खड़े रहे हैं और आगे भी खड़े रहेंगे। #TripleTalaqBill pic.twitter.com/1KvXAWbOag
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) July 30, 2019
Triple Talaq Bill passed by Rajya Sabha, massive victory for Modi govt
A great day for India! Our constitution and fundamental rights should prevail over medieval social mores! Congrats to our PM @narendramodi @PMOIndia @rsprasad https://t.co/UH7TQ4hGGk
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) July 30, 2019
Triple Talaq Bill passed by Rajya Sabha, massive victory for Modi govt
A great day for India! Our constitution and fundamental rights should prevail over medieval social mores! Congrats to our PM @narendramodi @PMOIndia @rsprasad https://t.co/UH7TQ4hGGk
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) July 30, 2019
