Unfortunately outnumbered in the Rajya Sabha, the Indian Government reconciled to the fact the Triple Talaq Bill will have to be sent to a Parliament Committee for review. The Opposition had earlier suggested the bill be sent for review and only then will it agree to the bill.
Tomorrow is the last day of the Winter Session, this means if the bill is sent to a committee it will be passed only in the next session of Parliament. The panel needs to be first constituted and then scrutinise the suggested changes in the bill.
On Wednesday, the Opposition united to go against the Government in the Rajya Sabha. The Opposition insisted the Bill be sent to a select committee of the House. Last week, the Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Bill 2017 was passed in the Lok Sabha where the Government has a big majority.
The Bill makes instant triple talaq illegal and the people indulging in the practice can be sentenced to a maximum of three years imprisonment. The Government has been pushing the Bill to get cleared in the Rajya Sabha in this session. But the Government is in minority in the Rajya Sabha. The Government’s allies like Telugu Desam Party have also asked for a review.
Yesterday, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Leader of the House Arun Jaitley met to discuss how to end the stalemate. A resolution needs to be moved by the Government to send the Bill to a select committee. On Wednesday, the Government tabled the Bill and made a strong appeal to pass the Bill. The Government stated it was urgent to stop Muslim men from divorcing their wives by just saying talaq thrice. After Congress opposed the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Government accused Congress of hypocrisy.
The Congress stated the ruling party is using politics over the issue. The Party further added the Bill’s provisions need to be strengthened to actually help Muslim women. Anand Sharma from Congress was quoted saying, “Parliament can’t be a rubber stamp.” The BJP wanted a debate in the Rajya Sabha to “expose the double standards of the Congress.” But the Government was forced into a corner after the Opposition’s majority numbers in the Upper House.
