Triple talaq Bill not taken up in RS, Opposition wants select committee

New Delhi: 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. “We are opposing jail punishment for pronouncing talaq. Even the Islamic tenets do not allow instant triple talaq. We will vote against the bill and it is the stand of the DMK that it (bill) be referred to a select committee,” she told reporters.

TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made an appeal to all his MPs to obstruct the harassment of Muslims.“All Opposition parties should fight unitedly against the anti-Muslim attitude of BJP. The government forcibly imposing triple talaq bill is a danger for secularism and national integrity,” he said. 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. (IANS)

Also Read: National News