Triple Talaq Bill Highlights: Lok Sabha passes 'The Muslim Women Bill

Updated: Friday, December 28, 2018, 1:39 [IST]

New Delhi, Dec 27: Amid a walkout by the Congress and AIADMK MPs, the BJP-led government passed the contentious Triple Talaq Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The politically sensitive bill which seeks to make the practice of instant triple talaq among Muslim men a penal offence came up for discussion in the Lower House.

The opposition, which had been demanding that the bill is referred to a 'joint select committee', staged a walkout when its demand was rejected by the government.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, said, "This was essential and it has been passed. Congress had supported it last time, I can't understand why they walked out this time. I am sure this bill will be passed in the Rajya Sabha as well."

The Lok Sabha had last week decided to take up the bill on December 27 after the Congress agreed to participate in the debate.

As the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, was taken up for consideration, Leader of the Congress in the House, Mallikarjun Kharge, had then suggested it be taken up for discussion next week. The fresh Bill to make the practice of triple talaq among Muslims a penal offence was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 17 to replace an ordinance issued in September. The BJP has issued a whip to all its MPs to be present in the House.

Stay tuned for Live updates here:

Dec 27, 2018, 7:56 PM IST

Union Min Rajyavardhan Rathore on Triple Talaq Bill passed in LS: The way Congress walked out today, it exposes their vote bank politics again. It’s their diplomatic nature. Now they'll try to stop it in Rajya Sabha. But our philosophy is to strengthen everyone and work together.

Dec 27, 2018, 7:17 PM IST

Two landmark judgments, two different stands. ‘Banning Triple Talaq is in national interest’, says Law Minister

Dec 27, 2018, 7:10 PM IST

Triple Talaq Bill 2018 passed in Lok Sabha.

Dec 27, 2018, 6:43 PM IST

Congress and AIADMK walk out from the Lok Sabha.

Dec 27, 2018, 6:21 PM IST

"Homosexuality and adultery were decriminalised by the Supreme Court and this government did not react. Why criminalise Triple Talaq? The government wants to use it against us," says AIMIM's Owaisi.

Dec 27, 2018, 6:17 PM IST

“Empowering women financially and emotionally will actually address the issue. This is not a law made for is, this is for women who are at the lower end of pyramid. So, this shouldn’t be criminalised,” said NCP leader Supriya Sule.

Dec 27, 2018, 5:53 PM IST

"All muslims of India are opposed to this bill," says Owaisi.

Dec 27, 2018, 5:39 PM IST

"The Bill is against the Muslim community. Our party will oppose the Bill, we are against it, that is our stand," says Anwar Raja, AIADMK MP.

Dec 27, 2018, 5:10 PM IST

"Take back three years jail term from the legislation," says SP MP Dharmendra Yadav.

Dec 27, 2018, 5:09 PM IST

"this is a family issue, a social issue," says Supriya Sule, NCP.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:58 PM IST

"Do not do politics over this. This is about justice," Irani says.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:56 PM IST

"Some say why criminalise a a civil matter. That way it was being said that if both parties agree for dowry then whats the problem, but this house saw it as crime and criminalised it," says Union minister Smriti Irani.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:42 PM IST

CPI-M's Mohammed Salim comes down hard on the Union Government over the Triple Talaq Bill. He says the Lok Sabha had rejected the bill but the BJP government brought it back.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:41 PM IST

“The proposed bill is not to victimise anyone but to serve justice to Muslim women,” said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minority affairs minister.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:41 PM IST

“Is there a provision in Hindu law, or Christian laws where a man can be sent to jail for 3 years for giving a divorce.” asks Congress’ Kharge.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:40 PM IST

"This bill is unnecessary and uncalled for," says CPI-M's Mohammed Salim.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:32 PM IST

"You are a gutsy minister Ravi Shankar ji," says Shiv Sena MP Arvind Ganpat Sawant.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:31 PM IST

"Why J&K has been excluded from Triple Talaq legislation," asks Shiv Sena MP Arvind Ganpat Sawant.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:29 PM IST

"Muslim women would be happy with this legislation. Triple Talaq was a discriminatory practice," says Shiv Sena MP Arvind Ganpat Sawant. He says even after Supreme Court verdict the triple talaqs kept happening.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:16 PM IST

"I can smell some politics behind this legislation," says BJD's Ravindra Kumar Jena.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:14 PM IST

"How can husband give maintenance if he is in jail for Triple Talaq offence," says BJD's Ravindra Kumar Jena.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:11 PM IST

"There is no safeguard to check its misuse," says BJD's Ravindra Kumar Jena.

Dec 27, 2018, 4:06 PM IST

"Don't we all want that Muslim women should get their Constitutional Right. It would not be fair if it is sent to a standing committee," says Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

Dec 27, 2018, 3:08 PM IST

"We have addressed objections and brought in a new bill," says Lekhi.

Dec 27, 2018, 3:05 PM IST

“Be it a Hindu woman, Muslim woman, or Christian, most women try to save their marriages, instead of filing for divorce,” says BJP’s Meenakshi Lekhi.

Dec 27, 2018, 3:03 PM IST

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi bats for Uniform Civil Code.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:55 PM IST

"The intention of the government to rid the society of ill practices, to bring equality in society," says Meenakshi Lekhi.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:52 PM IST

"It is not about He vs She, it is about human right violation," says Meenakshi Lekhi.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:51 PM IST

"I want to ask where in Koran is there a mention of Talaq e Biddat. This is an ill practice in the society," says BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:43 PM IST

"What are you giving Muslim name in the name of empowerment. You are giving her a criminal case with husband," Sushmita Dev says in Lok Sabha.

Dec 27, 2018, 8:20 am IST

The fresh Bill to make the practice of triple talaq among Muslims a penal offence was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 17 to replace an ordinance issued in September.

Dec 27, 2018, 8:21 am IST

The government issued an ordinance in September, incorporating the amendments.

Dec 27, 2018, 8:21 am IST

An ordinance has a life of six months. But from the day a session begins, it has to be replaced by a bill which should be passed by Parliament within 42 days (six weeks), else it lapses.

Dec 27, 2018, 8:22 am IST

The BJP has numbers in the Lok Sabha, but the same cannot be said about the Rajya Sabha.

Dec 27, 2018, 9:21 am IST

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to move the Triple Talaq bill to be taken up for discussion in the Lok Sabha today.

Dec 27, 2018, 10:09 am IST

The BJP on December 25 issued a three-line whip asking all its MPs to be present in the Lok Sabha as it plans to move for passing the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, commonly known as the Triple Talaq Bill.

Dec 27, 2018, 10:39 am IST

Congress issues whip to its Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House today, ANI reported while quoting sources,

Dec 27, 2018, 11:09 am IST

"We will take part in the discussion and keep forward our opinion. We will appeal to the govt that it should not interfere in a religious matter," Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge tells ANI.

Dec 27, 2018, 11:10 am IST

The bill was earlier taken up for discussion on last Thursday but Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge urged the House to table the bill on December 27.

Dec 27, 2018, 11:13 am IST

Debate on Triple Talaq Bill begin in Lok Sabha.

Dec 27, 2018, 11:16 am IST

Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon amid uproar.

Dec 27, 2018, 12:08 pm IST

The Lok Sabha sitting resumed at 12 noon after it was adjourned due to uproar by Opposition over Rafale deal and other issues.

Dec 27, 2018, 12:10 pm IST

LS adjourned again. Discussion on Triple Talaq will come up at 2pm.

Dec 27, 2018, 12:11 pm IST

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day over Cauvery and other issues.

Dec 27, 2018, 1:29 pm IST

Congress MPs from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha are in a huddle to decide the party's strategy during the triple talaq bill debate that is likely to be taken up after 2pm.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:07 pm IST

Debate on the bill resumes in Lok Sabha.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:08 pm IST

AIMIM's Asadudin Owaise says the government has not consulted any stakeholders. He demands that the bill to sent to a select committee.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:12 pm IST

"This is a very important bill which needs detailed study. It is also a constitutional matter. I request the bill be sent to joint select committee," Congress's Mallikarjuna Kharge in Lok Sabha.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:13 pm IST

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says the bill is not against any faith, he says it is about dignity of women.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:14 pm IST

Opposition members interrupt as Ravi Shankar Prasad speaks on the Bill. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan says do not interrupt, everyone will be given an oppurtuniy to speak.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:17 pm IST

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad cites numerous examples when women have been given Triple Talaq for unjust reasons.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:19 pm IST

"WHen this House has passed many bills to stop discrimination of women, then why the house cannot unite for this bill. This is not a political issue, this is about equality of women. This about ending a practice which is anti-women," RS Prasad says.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:19 pm IST

"I appeal to all members to speak in one voice," he says.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:23 pm IST

"20 Islamic nations have banned triple talaq, then why can't a secular nation like India? I request that this should not be looked through the prism of politics," says RS Prasad.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:38 pm IST

Congress' Sushmita Dev says if it is truly about dignity of women then we support it. But it is like "Muh mein ram bagal mein choori (depection)".

Dec 27, 2018, 2:40 pm IST

Congress' Sushmita Dev opposes criminalising Triple Talaq. She says Union Minister RS Prasad misread the SC judgement.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:42 pm IST

Congress' Sushmita Dev cites Shah Bano and Shaira Bano cases.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:43 pm IST

"What are you giving Muslim name in the name of empowerment. You are giving her a criminal case with husband," Sushmita Dev says in Lok Sabha.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:51 pm IST

"I want to ask where in Koran is there a mention of Talaq e Biddat. This is an ill practice in the society," says BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi.

Dec 27, 2018, 2:52 pm IST

"It is not about He vs She, it is about human right violation," says Meenakshi Lekhi.

The fresh Bill to make the practice of triple talaq among Muslims a penal offence was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 17 to replace an ordinance issued in September.
Under the proposed law, giving instant triple talaq will be illegal and void, and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.
The government issued an ordinance in September, incorporating the amendments.
An ordinance has a life of six months. But from the day a session begins, it has to be replaced by a bill which should be passed by Parliament within 42 days (six weeks), else it lapses.
The government is at liberty to re-promulgate the ordinance if the bill fails to get through Parliament.