Opposition parties are determined and have decided to demand that the bill be referred to the select committee for further deliberations.

Caravan News

NEW DELHI — The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2018 popularly called as Triple Talaq Bill is to face a real test in Rajya Sabha where the government lacks the numbers, on Monday.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 has been listed as the number one item under the head legislative business in the Upper House where the opposition has greater numbers, given the fact that BJP’s friendly party, AIADMK, has also opposed the legislation.

The Lok Sabha has passed the bill although Congress and other opposition parties and AIADMK walked out of the House before the bill was put to vote as the government had rejected the demand for referring it to a joint select committee.

Opposition wants select committee to review Talaq Bill

Ahead of the Central government’s move to move the triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha, the Opposition parties on Monday held a meeting and decided to demand that the bill be referred to the select committee for further deliberations.

The meeting, chaired by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad in his parliament house chamber, was attended among others by leaders of 12 opposition parties including Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, TMC’s Derek O’Brien, CPI’s D. Raja and Kerala Congress’ Jose K. Mani.

Sources present in the meeting said that most of the parties present in the meeting were of the view that the bill needs to be sent to the select committee.

DMK leader and Rajya Sabha member, K. Kanimozhi said her party had been consistent in its position against “criminalisation” of triple talaq.

The Triple Talaq Bill makes “triple talaq” an offence with a jail term of up to three years and a fine for the husband, and makes the woman entitled to maintenance.

The Congress said it won’t allow the bill to be passed in its current form, and has made it mandatory for its lawmakers to attend Monday’s Rajya Sabha session.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2pm on Monday amid ruckus, minutes after it met for the the day. But this ruckus was not on Triple Talaq Bill.

As soon as Zero Hour was called, AIADMK members trooped to the Chair’s podium, holding placards and shouting slogans protesting against a proposed dam on the Cauvery river in Karnataka.

(With inputs from IANS)