The Triple Talaq Bill that was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday, 25 July has been passed in the house.
Shortly after it was presented, the bill came under a sharp attack from the JD(U), Samajwadi Party and Congress.
Prasad said that the legislation was a must for gender equality and justice as despite a August 2017 Supreme Court verdict striking down the practice of instant triple talaq , women are being divorced by ‘talaq-e-biddat.’
Under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019, divorcing through instant triple talaq will be illegal, void and would attract a jail term of three years for the husband.
Prasad said that to allay fears that the proposed law could be misused, the government has included certain safeguards in it such as adding a provision of bail for the accused before trial.
During his speech, Speaker Om Birla asked Prasad not to read from news clippings and name newspapers while referring to instances of instant triple talaq.
‘It Will Create a Lack of Trust’: JD(U)
Strongly objecting the contentious bill to make the practice of instant triple talaq illegal, NDA ally JD(U) said it will create a lack of trust in the society and walked out of the House.
Stating his party does not support the Bill, Rajiv Ranjan Singh told the Lok Sabha that it will “create a lack of trust in the mind of the society.”
He was of the view that government should do all that is necessary to create "awareness among the people of this community (minority)."
This society does run with strict laws, he said, adding that everyone is run by customs.
Azam Khan Receives Flak Over ‘Objectionable Remarks’
Lok Sabha witnessed high drama when Mohd Azam Khan made certain objectionable remarks against BJP's Rama Devi, who was presiding over the proceedings, leading to uproar with union ministers pressing from an apology from the Samajwadi Party leader.
Participating in the debate on the triple talaq bill on Thursday, Khan made certain observations on a ruling party member.
Rama Devi asked Khan to address the chair and not to look at other members.
Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Arjun Ram Meghwal also urged the Chair to ask Khan to apologise.
When Khan was asked to do so by Rama Devi, he said he meant no disrespect to her as she was like his "dear sister."
Cong Demands Review by Standing Committee
The Congress on Thursday demanded the triple talaq bill be sent to the Standing Committee for review, while alleging that it targets the Muslim community.
Participating in the discussion on the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) bill in the Lok Sabha, Mohammad Jawed (INC) said the intent of the government is not clean and it wants to sideline the muslim community of this country.
“I request the minister to send the bill to the Standing Committee for review and think of laws for separated women of all communities and not only Muslims.”Mohammad Jawed (INC)
He said that more number of Hindu women are being divorced as compared to Muslim women.
Lakhi & Yadav Trade Barbs
BJP MP Meenakashi Lekhi said that this law is not the agenda of the BJP, but it is the agenda of the nation.
She said the opposition parties are not able to digest the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, being a Hindu, is thinking for muslims.
She said that it is a completely wrong view that some members are saying that the Muslim religion is in danger because of this law.
Certain people think that “Why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is constructing 10 crore toilets, why he is giving 12 crore gas cylinders to women? How can he (prime minister) be a brother of Muslim women? This is how they (opposition parties) think,” she said.
Lekhi claimed that sharia courts were running in Uttar Pradesh when Akhilesh Yadav (SP) was the chief minister.
This remark witnessed argument between Yadav, currently member of the Lok Sabha, and the BJP member.
Naqvi Lashes Out at Cong
Hitting out at the Congress for opposing the Bill to make the practice of instant triple talaq illegal, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the country was suffering because of the "sin" committed by the Congress in 1986.
"On 5 May 1986, there was a very important verdict of Supreme Court on the rights of Muslim women. Back then, in order to make this verdict ineffective the government at that time came out with a law," Naqvi said intervening in the debate on the bill.
He added, “Unlike in 1986, the BJP government is going to come out with a law to make effective the verdict of Supreme Court given recently.”
The bill, he said, is a constitutional commitment and aims at giving rights to the Muslim women.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)