Triple talaq bill: Sonia Gandhi says party's position clear

NEW DELHI: A day after the Centre made amendments in the draft triple talaq bill + , Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday said she would not say anything on the matter as her party's position was clear on the issue.

"Our party's position is absolutely clear on this, I will not say anything on this further," said Sonia.

While she didn't elaborate on her party's position on Friday, the Congress has earlier been demanding that a bail provision be included in the bill, which was done by the Centre yesterday, in addition to two other amendments.

The first amendment allows only a woman, or a close relative, to file a police case against her husband for instant triple talaq. Another amendment makes it clear that the police will lodge an FIR only if approached by the victim, her blood relations or people who become her relatives by marriage. The third amendment makes instant triple talaq "compoundable". That is, now, a magistrate can use his powers to settle the dispute between a husband and his wife.

The Centre is all set to table the draft bill in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Hussain Dalwai while commenting on the triple talaq bill on Friday said, women are treated unfairly in all religions.

"Women treated unfairly in all communities, not just Muslims, even Hindus, Christians, Sikhs etc. In every society, there is male domination. Even Shree Ram Chandra ji once left Sita ji after doubting her. So we need to change as a whole," said Dalwai.

While the draft bill easily passed in the Lok Sabha, it ran into trouble in the Upper House, with some opposition parties demanding that a bail provision be included in the bill. The BJP-ruled Centre hopes that the amendments made in the triple talaq bill would persuade the opposing parties to support the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

If the bill is cleared by the Upper House, it will have to go to the Lok Sabha for approval of amendments.