BJP, Congress spar over talaq bill in Rajya Sabha

Two of the judges... held the practice to be unfair... They said we (court) beseech all parties to come out with an appropriate legislation. Therefore, there is an urgency... ARUN JAITLEY, Union minister The government is playing politics in the name of triple talaq bill by selectively misquoting and misrepresenting even the SC constitution bench judgment.

ANAND SHARMA, Congress leader

NEW DELHI: The triple talaq bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, but with the Congress and other opposition parties adamant that it be sent to a parliamentary committee, and the government equally adamant that it not be, it looks unlikely to be passed in the current session of Parliament that ends on Friday — unless the government manages to break the deadlock in some way.

The government accused the Opposition, including the Congress party, of double standards for supporting the bill in the Lok Sabha where the Bharatiya Janata Party is in majority. The BJPled National Democratic Alliance is in minority in the Rajya Sabha.

Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 for consideration and passing, but while the BJP pressed for its expeditious passage, the Opposition demanded that the bill be referred to a select panel of Parliament for consideration.

The bill, which seeks to make instant triple talaq (a quick divorce, which just entails the world talaq being mentioned thrice) illegal with a prison sentence of up to three years for the offending husband, was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 28.