Government, Opposition spar over triple talaq

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hit out at the Congress for opposing the Triple Talaq Bill.

Jaitley said that the support that the Congress party extended for the Triple Talaq bill in Lok Sabha was a sham. He further blamed the party for disrupting the Upper House and not letting an end to the "injustice". 

He said " It is clear that the Congress Party is opposing the Triple Talaq Bill. The support they extended in Lok Sabha was a sham. Today was a golden moment for the House to end the injustice, but because of Congress it could not happen."

Earlier in the Upper House of Parliament, Jaitley called the opposition's demand of Standing Committee as "invalid Resolution". He said that such motion should be given 24 hours in advance. 

He also gave reasons for why the bill should not be referred to the Select Committee.

Referring to the six-month injunction to the bill he said that the country expects an urgency from the Parliament. He added that the Legislature must act with a sense of responsibility. 

Congress leader Kapil Sibal responded to Arun Jaitley. 

Sibal later said that they agree with the bill, but not with the criminalisation.

He said " We are for this bill, as SC deemed the practice as unconstitutional and that is what the bill says, we agree with it, but when it comes to criminalization, neither minority nor majority judgement (of SC) mentioned it, that is what we oppose." 

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad cited a recent incident of Triple Talaq. He said Congress which supported the Triple Talaq in Lok Sabha took a completely divergent view in Rajya Sabha. He added that the Congress supported the bill in Lok Sabha because they were in less number. 

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O Brien referred to the bill as "faulty" and said that the bill should be consulted with stakeholders.

He said that " We are all for this bill, it is a faulty bill. No womens' groups, stakeholders were consulted. All we ask for is that talk to stakeholders".

SP leader Naresh Agrawal doubted on the women who were present in Rajya Sabha to observe the tabling of the bill.

He said " What is the guarantee that the women present (in the Rajya Sabha to observe tabling of Triple Talaq) were Muslim. Did you see? Who knows they might be members of BJP Mahila morcha?

The leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said "This government is trying to mislead Muslim women and the general public," "What are they giving to Muslim women. They are merely projecting themselves as their 'messiah', but they are in fact only trying to befool the Muslim women," "When the husband of the Muslim woman goes to jail as per the law, who will run the family. We wanted the government to have provisions for the welfare of women.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee said "We did not oppose the triple talaq bill because we are for women. I know many Muslims who abide by the law. This bill, brought by the BJP government, is a defective one. "Instead of protecting the Muslim women, it will cause them harm. The BJP is playing petty politics with the bill,".

The Triple Talaq bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha today by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Disruptions followed as soon as the Bill was tabled leading to adjournment of the Upper House till 11 am Thursday.