The Bhartiya Janta Party‘s Bihar ally, Janta Dal (United) is likely to vote against the present Triple Talaq Bill if it comes in the Rajya Sabha for the passage. Sources claimed that Nitish led Party wants a deep discussion of the bill in the Select Committee.
JD(U) Leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vasistha Narayan Singh said as quoted by Economic Times, “Our party’s stand is clear that every stakeholder should be consulted on issues like the triple talaq Bill.”
“The way the Bill was taken up in a hurried manner should have been avoided and more consultation should have taken place on the issue (from other stakeholders)…if it comes up in the Rajya Sabha for passage we will oppose and vote against the government,” JD(U) State president Vasistha Narayan Singh said.
While KC Tyagi, Party’s Spokesperson made it clear that the Party’s has a firm stand on the issue while referring to Letter written by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to Law Commission on the issue of Uniform Civil Code long back.
Tyagi, as quoted by ANI, said, “Uniform Civil Code, article-370, Ram janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue is not on NDA’s agenda, it’s on BJP’s agenda, our views are different on these issues”.
KC Tyagi, JDU General Secretary: Uniform Civil Code, article-370, Ram janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue is not on NDA’s agenda, it’s on BJP’s agenda, our views are different on these issues. pic.twitter.com/LpSXlxEXKk
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2019
On Jan 2017, when JDU was a part of ‘Mahagathbandhan’ Nitish Kumar wrote a Letter to the Commission stating that ‘state must endeavor to bring in the UCC, such an effort, in order to be enduring and sustainable, must be on broad consensus…”
The move has not only embarrassed the BJP led government but also puts in a tricky situation. Earlier, AIADMK has also refused to support the Bill in its current manner. Sources claimed that if TRS, AIADMK, JDU and other parties choose to walk out from the Rajya Sabha then total strength of the House will be reduced to around 210 with not more than 90 favoring the current Triple Talaq Bill.
BJP is currently rough patches with its allies. Party’s Maharastra ally Shiv Sena recently choose not to back government over Rafale Issue. Shiv Sena recently supported opposition’s demand for Joint Parliamentary Committee Probe on Rafale Deal.
Earlier on December 27, The Lok Sabha Passed the Triple Talaq Bill after hours of Debate. It was passed with a huge margin of 245-11 votes. The Parliament proceedings on December 27 witnessed the major opposition parties–Congress, TMC, RJD, NCP and BJD, and others walking out before the voting began. Also, the amendments moved by the opposition were dismissed and the bill was passed by division in Lok Sabha.
Apart from this, The Women Wing of All India Muslim Personal Law Board on January 1 criticized the amended Triple Talaq Bill that was passed in Lok Sabha in 2018. The Wing claimed that the amended version of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, was self-contradictory and contrary to many prevailing laws of the country.