President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday advocated the early passage of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, also known as the triple talaq Bill, during the Budget session of Parliament.
While Mr. Modi made his remarks before the start of the session, Mr. Kovind made it a part of his address to both Houses.
Jail term
The Bill had been cleared by the Lok Sabha in December last, but is hanging fire in the Rajya Sabha where a larger Opposition group wants to send it to a Select Committee for further scrutiny, while the government wants early passage of the Bill. Opposition members are resisting what they term the “criminalisation of divorce” as the Bill proposes a three-year jail term for Muslim men if they pronounce instant triple talaq.
In his customary address to the media outside the Parliament House, Mr. Modi said it was the government’s effort as well as the expectation of the people that there would be no politics on an important issue like triple talaq and that Muslim women would get their right.
“But in the last session, despite a Supreme Court ruling, we could not get the Bill passed in Parliament. I hope and I humbly request all political parties to get the Bill passed in this session as a New Year gift of 2018 to Muslim women,” he said.
President Kovind also referred to the triple talaq Bill in his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, exuding confidence it will soon become a law and that the Muslim women can live a life free of fear and with dignity.
“Muslim women’s honour was a victim of political upmanship. Now the country has the opportunity to free them from this situation. My government tabled a Bill on triple talaq in Parliament and I hope it will become a law soon. After the law comes into force, the Muslim daughter and sister can live a life free of fear and with dignity,” the Presidentsaid.
