New Delhi — Upper House of the Indian Parliament on Tuesday approved the bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offense after BJP opposition parties walked out of the house coincidentally at the time of voting. The bill states that any Muslim man pronouncing triple talaq instantly will be punished by jail term up to three years.
The lower house (Lok Sabha) of the Parliament passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill last week while the upper house (Rajya Sabha) has approved now with 99 votes in favor and 84 against it.
The ruling NDA has 107 members among the total 242 members of Rajya Sabha. However, JD-U and AIADMK walked out during the critical hour of voting, hence downsizing the majority to 84 from 121.
Earlier the bill was rejected in Rajya Sabha when 100 votes were against it compared to 84 votes now.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quite excited over the bill and tweeted about it as “an occasion to salute the remarkable courage of those Muslim women who have suffered great wrongs just due to the practice of Triple Talaq.”
He also added that, “The abolition of Triple Talaq will contribute to women empowerment and give women the dignity they deserve in our society.”
This is an occasion to salute the remarkable courage of those Muslim women who have suffered great wrongs just due to the practice of Triple Talaq.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 30, 2019
The abolition of Triple Talaq will contribute to women empowerment and give women the dignity they deserve in our society.
Interestingly, pro-Muslim parties like Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), YSR-Congress, SP and BSP were absent, that strategically helped NDA.
All India Muslim Personal Law Board condemned the treachery of the parties by walking out of the house during the critical hour.
"We strongly condemn @INCIndia, @jantadal @Mayawati's BSP, AIDMK, @trspartyonline, @YSRCParty parties. They supported the @BJP4India's political agenda and walked out at the voting time in Rajya Sabha. They all have shown their true colors". Moulana Wali Rahmani:
— All India Muslim Personal Law Board (@AIMPLB_Official) July 30, 2019
Opposition leader Gulam Nabi Azad termed the bill as a politically motivated move to destroy Muslim households with domestic fights.
