On the last day of Parliament’s winter session with no end in sight to the deadlock in the Rajya Sabha…
On the last day of Parliament’s winter session with no end in sight to the deadlock in the Rajya Sabha over the Triple Talaq Bill, the government, outnumbered in the upper house is likely to finally send the contentious bill to a parliamentary committee, effectively ruling out its passage in the ongoing session.
The truncated and delayed winter session ends on Friday and the Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Bill 2017, which in all likelihood will be sent for review can only be passed in the next session of Parliament as first, the panel has to be set up which will then scrutinise the bill and suggest changes.
As soon as the bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday, the house witnessed noisy scenes as a united opposition led by the Congress demanded that the bill be sent to a Select Committee.
Advertisement
In minority in the upper house, the government didn’t get any support from friendly parties like the AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal while its ally Telugu Desam Party too demanded that the bill be reviewed by a select committee.
The government however, was against any climbdown on the bill that also provides for maintenance for victims of triple talaq and custody of children resulting in a stalemate which triggered a fierce slugfest forcing the house to be adjourned for the day.
The legislation, which seeks to make instant Triple Talaq illegal with up to three years in jail as punishment, was passed last week by the Lok Sabha, where the government has a brute majority.
However, the opposition leaders are claiming that an isolated BJP is in no position to stop them from moving a resolution that the bill be sent to a select committee.
With no solution in sight, the fate of the crucial bill and millions of Muslim women hangs in balance.
Advertisement
