Triple Talaq Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha with 99 votes for it. At the same time 84 people voted against the Bill in the Upper House. This is a big win for the Narendra Modi government
New Delhi: The Triple Talaq Bill was on Tuesday (July 30) passed in the Rajya Sabha with 99 members voting for it and 84 against. This is a major victory for the Narendra Modi government.
As Union law minister Ravi Shankar introduced The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Marriage) Bill which is for the Protection of Rights on Marriage, drama started in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill will now go to President Ram Nath Kovind for his assent.
After the voting was conducted in Upper House, the majority vote for passing the Triple Talaq Bill was 99. Eighty four voted against the Bill.
Earlier, the Bill was already been passed by the Lok Sabha by a voice vote amidst a walkout by the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), DMK and others. The Bill was passed by the 16th Lok Sabha but could not pass the Rajya Sabha hurdle.
The Congress had opposed the Triple Talaq Bill. Congress leader Amee Yagnik said if we want to empower women, then we should not push them to courts. The JDU staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha during the debate on the Triple Talaq Bill.
Later, Rajya Sabha was adjourned for lunch. After 2 pm the debate started. DMK's Tiruchi Siva also expressed his opposition to the Bill. He also said that this Bill is trying to put the Muslim men behind bars.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said in the Rajya Sabha, "Law minister sahib, if I use an expletive for you or I say that I will kill you. It does not mean anything if it does not happen. You will complain that I gave you maa behen ki gaali. But it won't be an act. Pronouncing Triple Talaq (talaq talaq talaq) is exactly like that."
He added that Supreme Court order on instant triple talaq is unconstitutional and a Muslim man pronouncing talaq to his wife is a void act. Urging members to approve the Bill, minister Prasad said the practice of triple talaq is continuing despite the Supreme Court banning the same through its judgment.
The government had thought that this illegal practice would stop after the apex court judgment banning instant triple talaq but it did not, he said.
As many as 574 cases of the illegal practice were reported after the Supreme Court judgment and 101 cases have come to light after the last ordinance issued by the government criminalising the practice, he said.
The minister further said there are reports of Muslim men giving triple talaq to their wife for serving burnt 'roti', for asking money to buy vegetables and for opposing an obscene video made by husband.
"There is a Supreme Court judgment but it is not been implemented. Therefore we have brought the law. Because law is a deterrence," Prasad said.
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