Will vote against govt on talaq bill: JD(U)

NEW DELHI: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally in Bihar, Janata Dal-united, on Thursday said it will oppose the triple talaq bill in case voting takes place in the Rajya Sabha.

JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP and party’s Bihar unit chief Bashistha Narain Singh told IANS: “The matter is related to a big community. There should be no hurry in bringing the triple talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha.”

He said the government should have done more consultation with the stakeholders before rushing the Bill.

Asked about his party’s stand in case voting takes place in the Upper House, Singh replied, “We will vote against the government.”

The Opposition is demanding that the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 be referred to a select committee of the House.

Earlier in the day, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government was receptive to any “constructive” suggestions by the Opposition on the Bill. Prasad was responding to IANS query as to why the government was not accepting the Opposition demand to refer the Bill to a select committee of Parliament for scrutiny.

“We will decide on the floor of the House when I speak there. We have already improved a lot of things. A select committee is important, but the plight of victim women is equally important. I would appeal to MPS to listen to their plight,” Prasad said.

The government had listed the Bill on Monday, but the Rajya Sabha could not take it up because of opposition’s reservations over the proposed legislation and its insistence on sending the bill to a parliamentary panel.

This led to heated exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches and the House was adjourned for the day amid din.

Both Opposition and government were accusing each other of doing politics over the issue ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

THE SC BENCH HAS GIVEN TIME TO AHMED PATEL AND BALWANT SINGH RAJPUT TO FILE THEIR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS AND SAID PATEL’S APPEAL WOULD BE HEARD IN FEBRUARY