A fresh bill to ban the practice of instant triple talaq was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The Bill was introduced by Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 will replace an ordinance issued in February by the previous BJP-led NDA government.
With the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha last month, the previous triple talaq bill had lapsed as it was pending in the Rajya Sabha.
However, the opposition benches led by the Congress opposed the introduction of the bill.
Congress MP from Kerala Shashi Tharoor said the government should bring a universally applicable law and not one that only targets Muslim men.
He asked the government to bring a universal law for desertion of the family instead and not target a specific community. “Men from other religions also desert their wives,” he added.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi called the bill discriminatory and questioned the government who will pay the maintenance if the Muslim man is jailed for 3 years?
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad responded to the opposing MP’s and said the rights of Muslim women will be protected as the bill is about justice and empowerment of women.
