Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Lok Sabha today passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage), Bill, 2019, or Triple Talaq Bill after much-heated debate. The bill seeks to declare the practice of instant triple talaq as void and illegal. The Bill has a provision of jail to those who practice instant triple talaq
Replying to the debate on the Bill, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was important to bring in a law banning instant triple talaq as the practice has continued despite a Supreme Court verdict passed in 2017.
Mr Prasad said, despite Supreme Court’s direction against the Triple Talaq, the practice is still continuing in different parts of the country. Several hundred cases have been reported.
He clarified that the Bill is not against any community or religion and it should not be seen through the lense of politics. Mr Prasad said, the bill is aimed at providing justice equality and dignity to Muslim women.
Mr Prasad said that many evils among Hindus, such as sati and dowry, were brought under the penal law. The minister said if Prophet Mohammed spoke against the practice, then why are we still not against it
He said that the Bill is banned in many countries, and it is not a way to appease vote banks. He said that Muslim women have come to him and told him that after this law comes to be, they will celebrate Eid and Independence Day on that day.
Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury opposed the penal provision , saying the Supreme Court never asked the government to introduce penal provisions. He said Present laws are sufficient.
N K Premchandran of RSP questioned the intent of the Bill.
He said the bill is intended to target a particular community. He said the government is citing minority judgement of the Supreme Court to justify such legislation . He also questioned the government for taking ordinance route in this regard.
Meenakshi Lekhi of BJP supported the bill saying that the bill intends to ensure rights of the muslim women.
BJD supported the bill while NDA ally JD(U) opposed the bill. Congress, TMC, DMK, BSP and JD(U) walked out in protest.
Earlier Moving the bill, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, despite Supreme Court direction against the instant Triple Talaq, the practice is still continuing in different parts of the country.
He clarified that the Bill is not against any community and religion and it should not be seen through the lens of politics.
AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the Bill’s provision of the burden of proof, he asked how will the women prove their correctness. He wondered how will a husband pay maintenance from jail.
By ending the marriage, the law will get the woman on the roads, he said. He demanded that a condition should be put that in such a case, 500 per cent of the maintenance that the husband is supposed to pay to the wife should be imposed.
Questioning the intent of the bill, N K Premchandran of RSP alleged that the bill is intended to target a particular community.
He said the government is citing minority judgement of the Supreme Court to justify such legislation. He also questioned the government for taking the ordinance route in this regard.
Mohammed Jawed of Congress opposed the bill saying the bill is against the Muslim community.
BJP’s Kirron Kher said triple talaq practice an insult to the legal system. She said, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan and other Muslim-majority countries have banned this practice.
Stating that the opposition’s speeches lacked substance, Mrs Kher said the parties are giving lip service to Muslim women who deserve the same rights as other women in the country. There was an uproar over Samajwadi Party member Azam Khan’s speech. Speaker Om Birla cautioned MPs over the language used in House.
Meenakshi Lekhi of BJP supported the bill saying that the bill will protect the rights of Muslim women. She said, there is a need to change the lives of Muslim women and empower them and this bill will play a pivotal role in this regard.
Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Bill protects Muslim women. He said, the Bill is in lines with the constitutional commitment and it will protect Muslim women. BJD member Anubhav Mohanty supported the Bill.