The government sought suggestions from various people while drafting the bill against triple talaq or instant divorce, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here on Sunday.

The Narendra Modi government has drafted the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 that makes triple talaq a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment up to three years and/or fine.

However, Muslim clergy and some Muslim organizations say that they were not consulted by the government while drafting the bill that “interferes” in their personal laws.

“We had sought suggestions from and consulted various people on the proposed legislation. There is no (sanction for) such thing as triple talaq at once in Islam,” Naqvi said in response to a media query.

“Apart from the penal provision, the new law will also have provisions for financial security of the divorced women and would protect their constitutional rights,” he added.

The Minister said that the bill would very likely be introduced in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

The Supreme Court held triple talaq as unconstitutional in August this year, but the practice still continued. The government then came up with the bill.

Addressing the “Progress Panchayat” held at Kishangarh Bas village, Naqvi said that the Modi government is working for all round development, including social and economic, of the minorities “but without any appeasement”.

He emphasized that participation of minorities in the central government jobs, which was about 5 percent in 2014, has gone up to 10 percent in 2017, while in this year’s civil services exam, more than 120 minority youth have been selected, out of which 52 are from the Muslim community.

He said that the blockade of “loot lobby” from “power corridors” has ensured that each and every penny of the government money is being utilised for the welfare of the needy.

“The Modi government will not allow any destructive agenda to dominate our development agenda,” he said.

Launched in 2016 from Mewat in Haryana, “Progress Panchayat” have been organised in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and other states.

The Minister also laid foundation stone of various development projects worth around Rs 11 crore including minority boys hostel at Daugada, minority girls hostel at Bambora, a Sadbhav Mandap at Kishangarh Bas and widening of road from Bamboraghat to Raibka Chowki Road, Kishangarh Bas.

He also inaugurated Government Higher Secondary Schools at Ratakhurd, Mahond, Sirmoli, Harsana and Kakraali Mev, a primary health centre at Chhaupanki, and sub-health centres at Gotoli and Raikheda.