LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION GHULAM NABI AZAD DEMANDS A VOTE ON MOTION IN UPPER HOUSE
New Delhi: The BJP Wednesday forced an adjournment in the Rajya Sabha as the Opposition pressed for the Triple Talaq Bill to be sent to a Select Committee of the House for scrutiny.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, known as the Triple Talaq Bill, in the House amid protests from the Opposition which sought a discussion over the anti-Dalit violence in Koregaon-Bhima in Maharashtra. Both Prasad and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused the Opposition of creating a ruckus to avoid tabling the Triple Talaq Bill, a charge vehemently denied by Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad.
As soon as the Bill was moved, Trinamool Congress’ Sukhendu Sekhar Roy brought Rule 125 to the Chair’s notice that confers the MPs the power to recommend referring a Bill to a Select Committee.
The opposition tried to prevent Prasad from giving a statement on the proposed legislation which has provisions to jail Muslim men through triple talaq.
Congress leader Anand Sharma moved the amendment, “This House being strongly committed to women empowerment and women’s rights refers the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 as passed by the Lok Sabha to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha for parliamentary scrutiny.” He said the Committee would submit its report in the Budget session.
Sharma proposed 17 names of members from Opposition parties like the Congress, AIADMK, TMC, SP, DMK, BSP, NCP, CPM, TDP, BJD, CPI, RJD, IUML and JMM and nominated member K.T.S. Tulsi, adding that the government could give its names.
Jaitley objected to the motion saying the Opposition had “sprung a surprise” by suddenly moving this amendment without giving notice at least 24 hours in advance.
Arguing against referring the Bill to a Select Committee, Jaitley said: “The SC declared triple talaq unconstitutional. Two of the (five) judges suspended triple talaq for six months, beseeching political parties to make a law to bar it. Now, the six months would end February 22 and there is a need to pass this bill,” Jaitley said.
Kapil Sibal of the Congress, who appeared in the case on behalf of the Muslim Personal Law Board, clarified that the suspension was a minority ruling and hence was not binding.
Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal contended that the Constitution visualised a bi-cameral Parliament for the very purpose that “if one House errs, the other House rectifies it”.
“Sir, in a democracy majority opinion prevails. Let’s have a vote on the issue,” Azad told the Chair amid ruckus by treasury benches.
BJP members who were already on their feet started shouting and came into the aisles.
Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien, expressing his inability to proceed with the vote amidst the din, adjourned the House for the day.
The BJP and its allies are in a minority in the RS and the result of a vote is a foregone conclusion.
IANS