Rajya Sabha passes Triple Talaq bill, Modi calls it victory of gender justice

The bill, which ends the practice of Muslim men divorcing their wives instantly by uttering "talaq" thrice, was tabled by Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. It was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha, where the BJP enjoys a comfortable majority.

The bill, which was passed with 99 lawmakers voting in its favour while 84 against it, also criminalises instant divorcing of wives by Muslim men.

According to the new law, Muslim men could face jail for triple talaq practice.

The Opposition questioned how would the Muslim men pay their wives if they go to jail.

Though the BJP ally Janata Dal (Secular) opposed the bill, its walkout along with few other Opposition parties of the Rajya Sabha brought down the majority mark enabling the NDA to have a smooth sail in the House.

The YSR Congress Party and Congress are among several opposition parties that are opposing the bill in its current form.

Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) also abstained from voting.

Meanwhile, several Opposition lawmakers remained absent from the House as well. The list of absentees included Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel of the NCP, five lawmakers from the Congress, six from the Samajwadi Party, four from Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party, two from Trinamool Congress, and one each from Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal and MK Stalin's DMK.

Shortly after the Rajya Sabha passed the bill that had been pending for 19 months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday referred to "Triple talaq" as a "historic wrong done to Muslim women" and expressed joy that it had been confined to "the dustbin of history".

In a tweet, Modi said: "An archaic and medieval practice has finally been confined to the dustbin of history! Parliament abolishes Triple Talaq and corrects a historical wrong done to Muslim women. This is a victory of gender justice and will further equality in society. India rejoices today!"

Thanking the MPs of various parties who had supported the passage of The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 in both Houses of Parliament, Modi said: "They have risen to the occasion and this step of theirs will forever be remembered in India’s history."

"The abolition of Triple Talaq will contribute to women empowerment and give women the dignity they deserve in our society," he added.

Hailing the decision, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted: "Today is a great day for India’s democracy. I congratulate PM @narendramodiji for fulfilling his commitment and ensuring a law to ban Triple Talaq, which will free Muslim women from the curse of this regressive practice. I thank all parties who supported this historic bill."

Outside the Parliament,  Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who tabled the bill, said, "Today is a historic day. Both the Houses have given justice to Muslim women. This is the beginning of a transforming India."

Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj congratulated PM Modi over the passage of the bill.

"I congratulate the Prime Minister and all members of parliament who helped in the passage of the revolutionary Bill on triple Talaq," she posted.

The bill had been passed in Lok Sabha twice – in 2017 and 2018 – but was stalled in the Upper House.

With the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha, the previous bill had lapsed as it was pending in the Rajya Sabha.