New Delhi: Parliament wrapped up its short winter session on Friday, leaving the government’s prime legislation against Triple Talaq in the freezer as it got stalled in the upper chamber, Rajya Sabha (RS).

The Congress and other opposition parties put up a determined fight against the bill, blocking its passage. While the Congress sought amendments, parties like the Indian Union Muslim League wanted it to go.

The bill, which had an easy time in the Lok Sabha where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has a comfortable majority, will now rest until Jan.29, when the House reconvenes for the budget session.

The government can seek a consensus in between, conceding some amendments.

However, it does not want the bill referred to a parliamentary panel because that could involve a delay in passing the legislation which the BJP hopes to use as a tool to attract women voters, especially Muslims.

At the same time, a united opposition in the Rajya Sabha, led by the Congress, stuck to its demand that the bill be sent for review to a parliamentary committee.

The government is adamant it will not cede to the opposition and send the bill to a panel. Minister Ananth Kumar said: “The Congress is indulging in diversionary tactics. They don’t have any intentions of helping Muslim women. They are hiding behind the idea of a select committee. Congress must learn from history.

“The dates for the budget session have already been announced. We hope the Congress will understand the public opinion on the issue, reconsider their stand and pass it in the budget session. There is anger among people on this issue.”

But Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress leader in Lok Sabha, retorted: “Our effort is to ensure a smooth passage of the bill... BJP is twisting the matter. It doesn’t believe in consultation and discussion. Congress is always in favour of the people.”

The Congress and BJP had issued whips to all their MPs in the Rajya Sabha to be present in the house on Friday just in case the bill was taken up. However, it remained deadlocked and was not taken up.

The draft legislation, called Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Bill 2017, seeks to make the instant “triple talaq” a criminal offence and mandates up to three years in jail as punishment for a Muslim man who divorces his wife by saying “talaq” thrice.

The government has said that after the Supreme Court held the practice unconstitutional last year, the bill must be passed to ensure justice to Muslim women.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said on Friday that the winter session, which commenced on Dec.15, had 13 sittings spread over 61 hours and 48 minutes. The House lost about 15 hours due to disruptions and adjournments.

She said that 16 bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha by the government in the session, of which 12 bills including the triple talaq bill was passed. Important bills passed during the session also included the Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Bill, the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill and the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill.