The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill was passed by the 16th Lok Sabha in December after four hours of debate. The Opposition has been against certain provisions criminalising the practice. The government was unable to pass it in the Rajya Sabha as the BJP and its allies did not have the majority in the Upper House, and the Opposition had disrupted House proceedings over the Rafale deal. After the Lok Sabha was dissolved after completing its term, the bill had lapsed.
In the current Lok Sabha session, the government introduced the Bill last week and it was cleared by the House with 303 votes in favour and 82 opposed. The Opposition maintained that the Bill “lacks bonafide intention, is with a political motive to harass Muslims and violates fundamental rights”.
The Opposition maintained that the Bill “lacks bonafide intention, is with a political motive to harass Muslims and violates fundamental rights”.
BJP ally JD (U) too expressed strong reservations against the Bill, saying it will lead to lack of trust in society. It walked out of the House before the vote — so did the Trinamool Congress. Stating that his party does not support the Bill, JD(U)’s Rajiv Ranjan Singh told Lok Sabha that the government should do all that is necessary to create “awareness among the people of this community”.
Defending the Bill, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad pointed out that despite the Supreme Court striking down the practice of instant triple talaq as illegal and unconstitutional, several hundred cases have been reported. He said there have been 345 such incidents across the country after the Supreme Court order in August 2017.
Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday said the passage of the triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha is a victory for millions of Muslim women and called it a "true testimony" to 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'.
Irani said the passage of The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 is a victory for millions of Muslim women. "Indeed a victory for millions of Muslim women. Grateful thanks Narendra Modi ji for leading this social revolution from the front. A true testimony to ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'," the Union minister said in a tweet.
Parliament passes Companies (Amendment) Bill
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The Triple Talaq bill, passed thrice by the Lok Sabha over the last 19 months, finally received the approval of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday amid walkouts by BJP allies JD(U) and AIADMK.
Home Minister Amit Shah: Today is a great day for India’s democracy. I congratulate PM for fulfilling his commitment&ensuring a law to ban Triple Talaq, which will free Muslim women from curse of this regressive practice. I thank all parties who supported this historic bill. pic.twitter.com/0s0voBMAWg
— ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday hailed the passage of Triple Talaq and said, " this is an occasion to salute the remarkable courage of those Muslim women who have suffered great wrongs just due to the practice of Triple Talaq."
He said that abolition of Triple Talaq will contribute to women empowerment and give women the dignity they deserve in our society.
Congress MP Raj Babbar called the passage of bill a historic mistake. He said, " a civic law has been made a criminal law ." " Main samajhta hoon ki is desh ke andar kisi bhi family law ko lekar ek bahot bada jhatka hai. "
Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Wages Code Bill that will enable the introduction of the minimum wage for workers besides addressing issues like delay in payment to employees.
The Code on Wages Bill, 2019, which seeks to amend and consolidate the laws relating to wages and bonus and matters connected therewith, will benefit 50 crore workers, Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said, terming the bill as a "historic step".
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad called it a historic day today after the Triple Talaq Bill cleared the Rajya Sabha. "Both the Houses have given justice to Muslim women. This is the beginning of a transforming India," he said.
Parliament on Tuesday approved the bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence, after the contentious legislation was passed by Rajya Sabha following non-aligned BJD extending support and NDA constituents JD-U and AIADMK walking out.
BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on the passage of Triple Talaq bill in Rajya Sabha: "Great relief to millions of women. Government’s efforts to uphold the rights and dignity of women finally overcame the Opposition’s hurdles."
The Rajya Sabha passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 with 99 ayes, and 84 noes.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar has moved the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 to be passed.
Voting on Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 is underway in the Rajya Sabha. Disposal of reference of amendment of th bill to the select committee has been rejected with 84 'Ayes' and 100 'Noes'.
The Rajya Sabha took up the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Marriage) Bill, 2019 for passage today.
Parties opposing the bill- Trinamool Congress, AIADMK, DMK, CPI(M), BSP, Samajwadi Party, Congress, J&K PDP, YSR Congress, TDP, RJD, JD(U), NCP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
*AIADMK and JD(U), both allies of the BJP, have staged a walkout in the upper house
Parties supporting the bill- BJP, Shiv Sena, BJD, AGP, RPI, SAD, TRS, SKM
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad cites jail terms in anti-dowry law and for Hindu men marrying for the second time without divorcing first wife to justify the jail term of three years in case of triple talaq.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in Rajya Sabha: "You spoke a lot today Ghulam Nabi sahab. You (Congress) won 400 seats in 1986. There have been 9 Lok Sabha elections after that, you did not get majority in any of them. Think why did that happen? You were 44 in 2014, 52 today. In 1986 you rose to 400, Shah Bano's case happened in 1986 and you never received a majority after that. I am giving you food for thought."
Opposing the contentious triple talaq bill, parties like Congress, TMC, SP, AIADMK and DMK on Tuesday demanded in Rajya Sabha that the proposed legislation be sent to select committee for further scrutiny. Most of the opposition members objected to the provision of criminalising instant triple talaq.
Opposing the Triple Talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Digvijay Singh questioned the government where it was for Muslim women during the Gujarat 2002 riots and when their husbands were lynched by mobs. "Where was your love for Muslim women then," he asked.
The AIADMK MPs staged a walk out of the Rajya Sabha on the Triple Talaq bill. MP SR Balasubramaniam said the party demands the Bill be sent to a select committee for scrutiny.
Objecting to the Triple Talaq Bill, CPI MP Binoy Viswan questioned the BJP on women empowerment in other religions. Viswan asked why women are not allowed to join the RSS.
Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal introduced two bills in the assembly on Tuesday to check incidents of honour killing and mob lynching in the state. 'The Rajasthan Prohibition of Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances in the Name of Honour and Tradition bill-2019' and 'The Rajasthan Protection from Lynching Bill-2019' were introduced.
According to the bill to curb honour killing, "There has been a spurt in illegal intimidation by self appointed bodies for bringing pressure against 'sagotra' marriages and inter-caste, inter-community and inter-religious marriages between two consenting adults in the name of vindicating the honour of family, caste or community.
"Although, such intimidation or acts of violence constitute offences under the Indian Penal Code, yet it is necessary to prevent assemblies which take place to condemn such alliances as also to punish such acts of violence and criminal intimidating severely."
(PTI)
A BJP member in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday raised the issue of work-friendly dress for women in uniform and urged respective ministries to allow them to wear clothes which are "convenient and dignified".
DP Vats (BJP) said during the Zero Hour that the present pattern of summer uniform with the shirt tucked in under the belt and pant is very inconvenient for women in police and military, especially during pregnancy and afterwards. "It does not suit Indian women," he said.
"Through you, I want to request ministries concerned that the option of wearing safari uniform or salwar kameez with rank badges as per respective dress colours may please be permitted for women in uniform. This will be more work friendly," he said. (PTI)
J&K PDP MP Nazir Ahmed Laway opposed the Triple Talaq Bill in the upper house today, saying the Bill communalises divorce.
Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Consumer Protection Bill that seeks to establish the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to protect and enforce consumer rights. The CCPA will take immediate action after a complaint is filed by even a single consumer and the authority can also
file a class suit, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan said while speaking on the bill.
He said the overall purpose of the bill is to ease the process of addressing grievances of consumers. The bill -- which would replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 -- proposes setting up of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and forums at the District, State and National levels for adjudicating consumer complaints.
Opposing the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Bill acts as a motive by the government to destruct Muslim families from within.
"This law is politically motivated, so minorities are occupied in fighting amongst themselves. Husband and wife will hire lawyers against each other, land will be sold in order to pay lawyers. By the time jail term will be over, they will be bankrupt," he said, adding that "when they will come out of jail they will either commit suicide or become dacoits and thieves, that is the intention of your bill."
YSR Congress opposed the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha today. MP V Vijaysai Reddy said the party will be voting against the Bill. "Triple Talaq is a civil contract, there is no need for criminal provision," Reddy said.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut supported the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha, saying it will strengthen the idea of secularism in the country. Advocating for uniform civil code, Raut congratulated the government for bringing the Bill, adding that soon Article 370 will too be struck down soon.
The DMK opposed the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha today. MP Tiruchi Shiva said the Bill goes against the preamble of the country, adding that it questions the spirit of secularism. "Hidden agenda is to put Muslim men behind bars," he said.
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha sought the Triple Talaq bill to be sent to a select committee for scrutiny. Questioning the maintenance clause in the Bill and the terms of punishment, Jha questioned why the Centre did not introduce a Bill to fix accountability for farmers' suicide and mob lynchings.
The CPI(M) opposed the Triple Talaq Bill in a debate in the Rajya Sabha today. Elamaran Kareem, party MP from Kerala said the bill seeks to instil insecurity in the Muslims, and is discriminatory to the community.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Marriage) Bill, 2019 that seeks to ban the practice of Triple Talaq, is likely to pass in the Rajya Sabha smoothly after the walkout of BJP's ally JD(U). With the walkout of the 7 MPs, the strength of the House has come down further, thus ensuring a smooth sail for the Bill. The Bill has already been passed by a voice vote in Lok Sabha.
YSR Congress party will oppose Triple Talaq Bill and vote against it, says YSR Congress Party leader, Vijay Sai Reddy to ANI
Congress, Trinamool Congress, BSP and DMK members walked out of the House. Trinamool Congress walked out twice. More than 30 members, mostly from the Congress were in the Well, for nearly 40 minutes and were heard shouting 'we want justice'. Raising the matter, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said it was shameful and demanded that adequate security should be provided to the victim's family. He made it clear that there was no intention to politicise the case.
Highlighting plight of voters who find their names missing on polling day, a Congress MP in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday suggested that there should be a permanent voters' list to address the issue. Raising the matter during the Zero Hour in the House, senior Congress member P L Punia said a large number of eligible voters find their names missing or deleted from voters' list. Also, there are separate voters' list for different elections like gram panchayat, state legislative assembly and Lok Sabha. To address the issue, Punia said there should be a permanent voters' list. A name should only be removed if the voter moves to another area and added in the list there.
Rajya Sabha adjourned for lunch. To resume at 2pm
Deputy Chairman announced that Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had said that the debate would continue and that any MPs who wish to go out for lunch and the proceedings will continue to go on. Congress leader Anand Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Azad have raised objections on this.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is addressing the House. "After 33 years again, the debate has risen on this wrong practice," he says citing the Shah Bano case. Countering Amee Yajnik's earlier argument he says, " We are definitely doing this for the empowerment of all women. Murder is also unconstitutional. But we do have a legal framework to support it. It is the duty of the ruling government to ensure that the dignity of citizens is maintained. Most Islamic countries have criminalised the practice. This bill will be passed today."
"The top court in its earlier ruling had already struck down this practice as illegal," she says and adds, "But there is no "thoughtful consideration. Why have you pushed the victim within the criminal jurisprudence where she has to attest before the magistrate and not the family court. Have we done enough legal awareness about the rights of the women? If we want to empower women, dignify them, don't push them to court," Yajnik said.
"The Supreme Court has already abolished the law. How can you bring a law for a law that is already struck down by the SC. You also have a provision where a blood relative can also give a complaint. But how can a third-person or a stranger enter the family component or the private matter between the husband and wife. It is a private matter and the Bill puts her right to dignity at stake," Amee Yajnik, Gujarat Congress leader said.
Congress leader Dr Amee Yajnik is the party's first speaker on the issue. "The practice has already been struck down by the Supreme Court. It has already been made unconstitutional. The government keeps talking about women empowerment. Why is the government not talking about all women? We have so many desertation cases, NRI fraud marriages. I am very much for women empowerment, but why are we looking at only one realm."
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has tabled the Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha. "We have made the practice unconstitutional, but there is no legal framework to back it up. We have brought a law because it is deterrence. I request the members to look at this bill from the prism of humanity and not politics."
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tables Triple Talaq bill in Rajya Sabha.
"People of India are feeling ashamed today due to Unnao incident, it's a blot on civilized society, where a minor girl was gang-raped. A truck hit victim's car(in Raebareli) and killed a witness, victim and her lawyer are in critical condition. We demand that the Home Minister comes to the House and gives a statement. What kind of a society are we talking about, where such an incident happens," Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said amid slogans of "India wants justice." The Opposition is also demanding the prime minister to answer the House over the issue.
"Triple Talaq bill will be tabled in Rajya Sabha at 12 pm today. We have 11 bills pending to be passed today. So far, 15 bills have been passed in both Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha. 6 bills have been passed only in Lok Sabha and 4 bills only in Rajya Sabha," BJP MP Pralhad Joshi said.
The Opposition is raising slogans over the accident of Unnao rape case victim. "It should not be politicised, CBI inquiry is already underway, FIR has been registered. Government is investigating with impartiality," BJP MP Prahalad Joshi said. The Opposition, meanwhile, is raising slogans like "Beti Badhao, Beti Bachaho ka kya hua!"
Congress leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and five other party MPs give Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over "gruesome crimes against women, a matter of great concern (in connection with Unnao)".
SP members, including Ram Gopal Yadav and Jaya Bachchan, gather near Mahatma Gandhi statue to protest against the Unnao case
BJP Parliamentary meeting underway in Delhi
Welcome to The Indian Express live blog on Parliament. In Lok Sabha, Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 and The Code on Wages will be discussed. In Rajya Sabha, the Triple Talaq Bill will be moved for discussion. Follow this space to track the latest news.