NEW DELHI: Should the triple talaq bill be sent to a Select Committee or not? This question triggered a heated exchange of words in the Rajya Sabha, forcing an adjournment of the upper house of the Indian parliament for the day.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, popularly known as the triple talaq bill, was moved in the House on Wednesday soon after it reconvened at 3pm. Moving the bill, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the triple talaq was being used despite the Supreme Court banning it.
Trinamool Congress member Sukendu Sekhar Roy moved a motion for an amendment under the Rule 125 and sought that the bill be sent to a Select Committee. “We think the bill is faulty. It requires suggestions from different stakeholders,” he said. Congress member Anand Sharma too moved a motion to send the bill to a Select Committee.
His motion was supported by members of various opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, the AIADMK, the DMK, the CPI, the CPI-M, the RJD and the BSP. Even before the bill was taken into consideration, a heated verbal exchange was witnessed in the House with members raising a series of point of orders.
When the law minister again rose to speak, the opposition members objected to him. Leader of the House Arun Jaitley speaking after a bill is moved, claiming it was unprecedented. However, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien clarified the minister concerned and the house leader have the right to express their views.
Appealing to the Congress to support the bill, Prasad said that the triple talaq was continuing despite the Supreme Court banning it. “This bill is necessary,” he said. Jaitley argued that the motions moved by Sharma and Roy cannot be taken up as it was in conflict with the rulebook.
Jaitley’s speech was interrupted several times. “The whole country is watching that in the other House you supported the bill and in this House, you are opposing it,” he said pointing at the Congress members. The treasury bench put forth the argument that the Supreme Court’s ban on instant triple talaq was valid only for six months, which ends on February 22, and this bill was necessary to protect the interests of married Muslim women.
The opposition members were firm in their stand that they are ready to support the cause but the bill is faulty and needs a second look. At one stage, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad suggested that the House could vote on the issue. “If the majority’s view is not heard in this House, where will it be heard?” he quipped. Amid din, the chair decided both the motions are valid but the members on both the sides continued their protests. The House was adjourned for the day.
