Congress on Thursday issued a three-line whip to its MPs in Rajya Sabha over their absence from the house when the Triple Talaq bill passed. It has directed its MPs to be present in the house till 7 August. The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage), Bill criminalizing Triple Talaq by 99 votes in its favor and 84 against it.
Interestingly, few of the Congress members were not present in the upper house due to which opposition suffered a big embarrassment with Central government scoring an easy win over the Triple Talaq bill. Even with BJP not commanding majority in the Upper house, it secured victory with the support of BJD due to the walkout by BJP allies JD(U) & AIADMK, and congress members’ absentees.
Earlier, the opposition demanded that at least half of the 23 bills by the government should be sent to the Select committee. For this purpose, six bills were deemed as category A bill after a discussion with Parliamentary Affairs Minister and others. But opposition is now infuriated on the fact that Triple talaq bill that was presented in the house was supposed to go to the Select committee, instead put up for voting on Tuesday.
Speaking in the upper house on Wednesday, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of opposition accused government for keeping opposition in dark. He, as quoted by ANI, said “You tell your people to be present. We remain under the illusion that this bill is going to the Select Committee. This is not done. This is unfair on the part of the government”.
GN Azad: The Bill y'day (Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, 2019)&Bill listed no.2 today (Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment Bill) were listed to go to Select Committee. Y'day's Bill was listed at night&we were given to understand they haven't considered it https://t.co/hOInjuMQ2s
— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2019
The Muslim Women (Protection of rights on marriage) Bill, passed on Tuesday now invalidates Triple talaq terming it as void and illegal. Anyone practicing it could land in jail for three years of imprisonment.