On the last day of the Monsoon session on Friday, the Centre failed to push Triple Talaq Bill for discussion and passage in the Rajya Sabha despite putting all its efforts.
M Venkaiah Naidu, Rajya Sabha chairman told the Upper House that the Bill which criminalizes instant triple talaq is likely to be taken up in the next session as the parties could not reach a consensus on the issue.
According to The Indian Express report, Opposition Leader in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and other Opposition leaders told Naidu that no Bill can be taken up in the Parliament without getting permission in advance of the Business Advisory Committee which discusses and allocates time.
After the amendments were approved by the Cabinet on the triple talaq bill earlier, the Centre listed it for discussion and passage in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
According to the Hindustan Times report, the Centre might pass an ordinance criminalizing the instant triple talaq practice as it failed to get the Bill passed in the Parliament. A party leader on the condition of anonymity told HT, “A decision will be taken soon in this regard. The government is committed to protecting the interest of Muslim women.”
BJP led NDA lacks a majority in the Upper House, thus it could not put up the Bill for discussion. The Triple talaq Bill was passed without the amendments in the Lok Sabha in December. Congress-led Opposition has been demanding further analysation of the Bill.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad lashed out at Congress for playing vote bank politics. He said, “The true double standard of the Congress has been exposed today in Rajya Sabha. After the proposed amendments, no concern whatsoever was left unattended. Yet the Congress held it back.” He added, “What is indeed tragic is that the Congress is least concerned about the issue of insaaf for the triple talaq victims and focussed solely on its vote bank.”
Prasad accused, “Congress voted for the triple talaq Bill in Lok Sabha as it is but now it is objecting in Rajya Sabha. This is a textbook case of hypocrisy and double standard.”
On Thursday when the Cabinet approved the Bill after introducing certain amendments, Prasad in a press conference had attacked UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and said, “I want to ask Sonia Gandhi, will you stand up for women’s honour and pride? Congress should make their stand clear.”