The bill to ban instant Triple Talaq is likely to be tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Several opposition parties have bitterly opposed the bill in its current form, contending that it would end up victimising Muslims but, the government has asserted that the bill is a step towards gender equality and justice. The BJP has issued a whip to its MPs, asking them to be present in the lower house.
Under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019, divorcing through instant triple talaq is illegal, void and will attract a three-year jail term for the husband. Seeking to allay fears that the proposed law could be misused, the government has included certain safeguards in it such as adding a provision for bail for the accused during trial.
The bill was introduced in the Lower House on June 21, However, the opposition benches led by Congress opposed the introduction of the bill.
Congress MP from Kerala Shashi Tharoor had said that 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?
On Wednesday, several Opposition parties, at a meeting chaired by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, decided to boycott Parliament session over the government’s alleged refusal to send controversial bills to parliamentary panels.
