Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, in Congress, came out strongly against the Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha. "This law is politically motivated, so minorities are occupied in fighting amongst themselves. Husband and wife will hire lawyers against each other, and land will be sold in order to pay lawyers. By the time the jail term will be over, they'll be bankrupt," he said, reported ANI.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, on Triple Talaq Bill: When they will come out of jail they will either commit suicide or become dacoits and thieves, that is the intention of your bill. https://t.co/H0fJ7r9UAP
— ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2019
The opposition leaders had strongly objected to the bill, which proposes jail sentence for triple talaq, when it was introduced in the Lok Sabha. Shashi Tharoor of the Congress said he was opposed to triple talaq (instant divorce) but was against this bill as it conflates civil and criminal laws.
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He claimed it was a textbook example of class legislation as it was pointed at one community―Muslims―even though abandoning wives is not unique to it. Tharoor said there should be a law universally applicable to all in case of abandoning wives.
Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM took a dig at the BJP, saying it has so much affection for Muslim women, but is opposed to rights of Hindu women to enter Sabrimala Temple in Kerala.
Moving the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 in the Upper House, Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the proposed legislation should be not seen through a political prism or vote bank politics, as it aims at ensuring gender dignity, justice and equality.
"This issue should not be seen through a political prism or votebank politics. This is a question of humanity. This is for ensuring justice to women, dignity and empowerment to women and to ensure gender dignity and equality," he said.
He said more than 20 Islamic countries have regulated triple talaq in various forms. "India is a secular country, but unfortunately for one reason or the other it could not happen," he said.
Urging members to approve the bill, Prasad said the practice of triple talaq is continuing despite the Supreme Court banning the same through its judgment.
The government had thought that this illegal practice would stop after the apex court judgment banning instant triple talaq but it did not, he said.
As many as 574 cases of the illegal practice were reported after the SC judgment and 101 cases have come to light after the last ordinance issued by the government criminalising the practice, he said.
The minister further said there are reports of Muslim men giving triple talaq to their wife for serving burnt 'roti', for asking money to buy vegetables and for opposing an obscene video made by husband.
