Rajya Sabha witnessed yet another heated debate over the Triple Talaq Bill
NEW DELHI :The deadlock over the triple talaq bill continued in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday with the Opposition insisting on its reference to a Select Committee for detailed scrutiny and the government rejecting the demand.
With no agreement, the government placed the bill in the bottom of priority in the list of business, which the Opposition strongly objected to and demanded that its motions for referring the bill to a Select Committee be taken up immediately.
As Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said that the listing of business was the government’s priority and decided to go ahead with a bill on GST, Opposition members created an uproar, forcing him to adjourn the House for the day.
TMC MP Derek O’ Brien said in Rajya Sabha, “It’s clear that this side (opposition) wants to empower women, and you (Government) stand exposed.” Smriti Irani replied, “Absolutely not, if you seriously want to empower women then have a discussion now.”The government is isolated, the opposition is one. The bill should be sent to the select committee: Kapil Sibal from Congress said on debate over Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha.
“Opposition stands exposed in Rajya Sabha, for past 2 days repeatedly it has been said that if there are any issues need to be spoken on Triple Talaq Bill, those issues need to be put out on the floor of the House. Why is congress -led opposition running away from discussion? Double standards of congress led opposition are exposed today and I think it is a shame on them that they are trying to obstruct this path of justice for Indian Muslim women.”
Earlier, political parties indulged in a slugfest both inside and outside the Parliament as a Bill to ban instant triple talaq was tabled in the Rajya Sabha. While the government wanted a debate on the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition wanted it to be sent to a select committee for scrutiny before it is a made a law.
The BJP accused the Congress and other parties of running away from a debate and stalling the Bill that ensures gender justice to Muslim women. The Congress charged the ruling party with doing “politics” over the issue, saying it has nothing to offer to the hapless women.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Opposition wanted the Bill to be sent to a select committee that would help make it strong by offering support to Muslim women and by removing the criminality clause.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley lashed out at the Congress for “indirectly” opposing the triple talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha and said Muslim women would continue to face injustice due to its attitude.
The Triple Talaq Bill is likely to be deferred to the next parliament session as the opposition build up pressure on sending the bill to a select committee. The truncated and delayed winter session ends tomorrow. If the bill is sent to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha, it can now only be passed in the next session of Parliament.
The Budget Session is likely to start at the end of January. It will first feature the President’s address, then the debate on it in the two Houses, then the Budget and the debate on it. Top ministers say that if the triple talaq Bill is referred to a panel, there’s little likelihood of its being taken up before the second half of the Budget session.
Smriti Irani also added: “Opposition stands exposed in Rajya Sabha, for past 2 days repeatedly it has been said that if there are any issues need to be spoken on Triple Talaq Bill, those issues need to be put out on the floor of the House. Why is congress -led opposition running away from discussion? Double standards of congress led opposition are exposed today and I think it is a shame on them that they are trying to obstruct this path of justice for Indian Muslim women.”
Earlier, political parties indulged in a slugfest both inside and outside the Parliament as a Bill to ban instant triple talaq was tabled in the Rajya Sabha. While the government wanted a debate on the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition wanted it to be sent to a select committee for scrutiny before it is a made a law.
The BJP accused the Congress and other parties of running away from a debate and stalling the Bill that ensures gender justice to Muslim women. The Congress charged the ruling party with doing “politics” over the issue, saying it has nothing to offer to the hapless women.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Opposition wanted the Bill to be sent to a select committee that would help make it strong by offering support to Muslim women and by removing the criminality clause.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley lashed out at the Congress for “indirectly” opposing the triple talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha and said Muslim women would continue to face injustice due to its attitude.
The Triple Talaq Bill is likely to be deferred to the next parliament session as the opposition build up pressure on sending the bill to a select committee. The truncated and delayed winter session ends tomorrow. If the bill is sent to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha, it can now only be passed in the next session of Parliament.
The Budget Session is likely to start at the end of January. It will first feature the President’s address, then the debate on it in the two Houses, then the Budget and the debate on it. Top ministers say that if the triple talaq Bill is referred to a panel, there’s little likelihood of its being taken up before the second half of the Budget session.
The bill seeks to make instant triple talaq illegal with up to three years in jail as punishment. It was passed last week by the Lok Sabha, where the government has a big majority.(With Agency Inputs ).
