New Delhi: The controversial bill to make triple talaq a cognisable and non-bailable offence and provide for jail up to three years for the offenders was on Thursday introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Government amidst vehement protest by the Opposition parties.However, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, while introducing The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, said this legislation was not any religion but about dignity and justice for women.
'Today is a historic day,' he said amidst thumping of desk by Treasury benches and protests from the Opposition benches.Replying back to the opponents of the Bill, he said,'if the instantaneous talaq was continuing even after the Supreme Court judgement rendering the triple talaq or talaq-e-bidat as illegal, can this House remain silent?''Today the House has to decide whether Muslim women victims have any fundamental rights,' Mr Prasad said and asserted that Parliament had full rights to make a law to secure justice to its citizens.
Earlier, as Mr Prasad moved to introduce the Bill, several members belonging to the All India
Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen(AIMIM), the Indian Union Muslim League, the BJD and AIADMK objected to the legislation describing it as legally flawed and against the basic structure of the Constitution.Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM said if the Bill was passed, it would be in-justice to Muslim women. He also said Parliament lacked legal competence and there had been no consultation with stakeholders in drafting the bill. (UNI)