Triple Talaq Bill, Assembly Polls in J&K Dominate Winter Session

Recording abysmal productivity this year, the Winter Session of Parliament witnessed multiple rounds of disruption, but saw the passage of the The Muslim Women Bill (Protection of Rights on Marriage) 2018, or Triple Talaq Bill, in the Lok Sabha.

Political tempers ran high in Parliament as both the houses – Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha – saw roars and crippling disruption from opposition parties over the Triple Talaq Bill, the probe into the Rafale jet deal, and reservation for women in legislature, among several other heated debates.

In session for nearly a month, the Winter Session began on 11 December 2018 and will end on 8 January 2019.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has written to Congress/alliance governments in the states to have a resolution passed in their respective assemblies seeking one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

Pointing out that India ranks 148 out of 193 countries in terms of the percentage of women in Parliament, Gandhi said the situation was "even worse in state Assemblies".

"The lack of adequate representation of women in our polity undermines our democracy and perpetuates existing systemic injustices. Women in institutions of local self-governance have not only been effective leaders, but also challenged traditional gender roles that curtailed their participation in public life," said Gandhi in his 6 December letter.

The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 but lapsed after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014.

(IANS)

Here’s the full schedule of the meetings scheduled ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament.

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu will arrive in Delhi at 11 am ahead of the Opposition and the all-party meet. He will also chair TDP's parliamentary party meeting at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan.

RLSP Chief Upendra Kushwaha will not attend the NDA meet today. “I will not participate in the meeting of NDA allies today,” he told ANI.

Kushwaha may quit the BJP-led NDA a day before Parliament begins, triggering a realignment of political equations in Bihar. "Kushwaha is likely to announce his parting of ways with the BJP today. He will also quit as a Union minister," a senior RLSP leader told PTI.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will raise the issue of CBI-Andhra Pradesh government row in the Winter Session of Parliament in today's opposition meet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to attend the all-party meeting in Delhi.

The all-party meet called ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament concluded on Monday. The Parliament session commences on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the BJP Parliamentary Party Executive meet.

A day ahead of Parliament's Winter Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked the BJP and its allies to make use of the last full session before the Lok Sabha polls, saying their focus should be on making it beneficial for the government, country and people.

Following a meeting of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters that the ruling alliance leaders stressed on the need to make the session constructive and to push the government's legislative agenda.

Ahead of the Winter Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 11 December, addressed media outside Parliament and said that this sessions is important. “Many issues of public importance will be taken up,” Modi said.

“I have faith that all the members of the Parliament will respect this sentiment and move ahead. Our efforts are that discussions are held on all issues,” he added.

(Source: ANI)

PM Narendra Modi’s office tweeted:

“I hope the productivity of the Winter Session is high. Let us strive to work hard and complete the legislative agenda pending. May national interest always prevail over party considerations.”

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for today after reading out the obituary to sitting and former MPs including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

(Source: PTI)

Both the Houses of Parliament adjourned on Tuesday, 11 December, the first day of Winter Session after making obituary references to their members who passed away during the inter session, including former Lok Sabha Speaker Somanth Chatterjee.

All party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan begins in Parliament Annexe.

(Source: ANI)

The Trinamool Congress has given a notice in the Rajya Sabha under rule 267 to "immediately discuss the threat to nation's institutions like RBI", reported ANI.

This comes on the back of RBI Governor Urjit Patel resigning and being replaced by Shaktikanta Das.

Congress MP Sunil Kumar Jakhar has moved an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over Rafale Deal.

Shiv Sena MP Chandrakant Khaire moves an adjournment notice in Lok Sabha on Ram Mandir issue.

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon, reported The Times of India.

The Congress gave a notice for suspension of business in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the alleged corruption in the purchase of 36 fighter jets from France under a government to government deal and demanded a joint parliamentary committee probe into the issue.

Deputy Leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma moved a notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Council of States seeking suspension of all business of the House to discuss the Rafale purchase.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh reacting to the adjournment said:

The Lok Sabha was on Wednesday, 12 December, adjourned for the day following protests by opposition members on various issues including the Rafale deal, construction of Ram Temple and Cauvery river water.

Immediately after the House re-convened at noon, Congress, Shiv Sena, TDP and AIADMK members trooped into the well with placards and started shouting slogans in support of their demands.

Similar scenes were earlier witnessed when Question Hour began after obituary references to 11 former MPs.

Congress MP Sunil Kumar Jakhar on Thursday, 13 December, moved an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over the Rafale deal.

Party MP Ranjeet Ranjan has also given given an adjournment motion notice in the Lower House over the RBI issue and demonetisation.

Meanwhile, AAP leader Sanjay Singh has given a Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over sealing in Delhi.

The Parliament on Thursday, 13 December, paid tribute to the martyrs of the 2001 terror attack on its anniversary.

A BJP Parliamentary party meeting is underway at the Parliament Library building. The meeting is being attended by PM Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Prakash Javadekar, Kiren Rijiju, Ravi Shankar Prasad, VK Singh, Radha Mohan Singh, among others.

Amit Shah will also chair a meeting at the BJP headquarters in Delhi on Thursday, 13 December, to discuss the defeat in recent Assembly elections in five states and to plan the agenda for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, reported ANI. The meeting will also be attended by state presidents and state in-charges of the BJP.

Various leaders, including PM Modi, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former PM Manmohan Singh, BJP veteran LK Advani and Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan, paid tributes to the people who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on Parliament on 13 December 2001.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Thursday, 13 December, following protests by opposition parties over various issues, including alleged corruption in the Rafale deal and Cauvery river water.

Besides opposition members, ruling BJP's ally Shiv Sena also held protests in the House demanding law for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhaya.

Speaking in the House, party leader Anandrao Adsul said the BJP got full majority but "forgot" Hindutava, which was the main reason for the alliance between the two parties.

(PTI)

The treasury benches on Friday, 14 December, mounted a counter-offensive on the Opposition over the Rafale issue in Lok Sabha after the Supreme Court gave a clean chit to the deal, with the government seeking an apology from Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

As soon as the Question Hour was taken up, Opposition members trooped into the Well carrying placards on various issues, including alleged scam in Rafale deal.

But BJP members stood up and started raising slogans against the Congress and Gandhi.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said following the SC verdict, Rahul Gandhi should apologise.

Amid loud sloganeering, around 11:10 AM, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till noon.

(PTI)

Speaking after the Rafale deal verdict by the Supreme Court, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Congress President Rahul Gandhi tried to mislead the public for political benefit and demanded his apology.

The Supreme Court order on the Rafale jet deal issue on Friday, 14 December, also rocked the Rajya Sabha which witnessed intense sloganeering by the ruling BJP and opposition Congress members leading to adjournment of House proceedings.

Amid noisy protests, Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was heard saying that the Opposition has been demanding a debate on the jet deal and so the Question Hour should be suspended to take up the issue.

Congress members entered the Well of the House to demand a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the purchase of jets from the French company Dassault.

Amidst uproar, the members were heard raising slogans -"We want JPC" and "Chowikdar Chor Hai".

BJP members were heard shouting slogans like 'Rahul Gandhi Jhootha Hai' (Rahul Gandhi is a liar).

(PTI)

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan and CPI (M) MP Mohammed Salim have given adjournment Motion Notices in the Lok Sabha over the Rafale issue, ahead of today’s parliament session.

Congress MP Sunil Jakhar also gave a Privilege Motion notice in the Lok Sabha against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has appealed to all political parties to arrive at a consensus and ensure the passage of Women's Reservation Bill for providing reservation to women in the Parliament and state legislatures, news agency ANI reported.

Naidu pointed out that reservation of seats for women in Panchayats and Municipalities has proved to be successful.

Addressing a NITI Aayog gathering – Women Entrepreneurship Platform Conclave in New Delhi on Sunday, Naidu was quoted by The New Indian Express as saying, "The contribution of Indian women to GDP, currently at 17 per cent, was well below the global average of 37 per cent. Only 27 per cent of women in India were gainfully employed. These are the numbers that pose a challenge to the lawmakers and lawmakers of this country, and this is where NITI AAyog's efforts in empowering women entrepreneurs through WEP is especially commendable."

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha were adjourned for nearly 50 minutes amid sparring between treasury and opposition benches over the Rafale deal issue.

As soon as the House took up Question Hour, members from the AIADMK, TDP and Congress rushed to the Well raising slogans.

While the AIADMK was raising issues related to construction of a dam over River Cauvery, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh.

Congress members raised the issue of government's stand in the Supreme Court over the Rafale deal and accused it of misleading the top court.

Standing at their benches, BJP members raised slogans such as "Rahul Gandhi apologise" and "Rahul Gandhi chor hai" to counter the Congress offensive.

After nearly five minutes of slogan shouting from both sides, the House was adjourned till noon around 11:10 AM.

The Triple Talaq bill has been tabled in the lower house of Parliament on Monday, before the house was adjourned again till 2 pm.

As the lower house of the parliament was reduced to a noise chamber by politicians over the Rafale issue, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tabled the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, BJP MP Thawar Chand Gehlot and NCP Member Supriya Sule gave their ammendments on the bill to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, amid the ruckus within the house.

Speaker Sumitra adjourned the house further till 3 pm after the statements from Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, BJP MP Thawar Chand Gehlot and NCP Member Supriya Sule on the Transgender Persons Bill.

AIADMK MPs on Tuesday, 18 December, launched a protest in Parliament premises against Karnataka preparing a report for the proposed construction of a reservoir-cum-drinking water project at Mekedatu across the Cauvery river.

Tamil Nadu CM E Palanaswami had written to PM Modi seeking revocation of Centre's permission to Karnataka, ANI reported.

Both the Houses were adjourned minutes after starting the session on Tuesday, 18 December. Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 12 pm while Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Tuesday, 18 December, urged the MPs to engage in a healthy discussion and to allow the session to proceed.

"The government is ready to discuss anything you want, but this is not the way,” she said. "Whatever discussions you want to engage in will be done as per the rules."

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day following continued protests by the Opposition parties over the Rafale deal. The House will next meet on Wednesday, 19 December, at 11 am.

Speaking outside the Parliament on Tuesday, 18 December, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that his party will not let Prime Minister Narendra Modi sleep till he waives the loans of farmers.

Gandhi said that all Opposition parties will united and demand this. “Till now, PM has not waived off a single rupee of farmers,” he said.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, 18 December, said that ‘typos’ will soon emerge in everything – be it JPC, Rafale, farm loan waivers, or demonetisation.

He was referring to the "factual correction" the government has sought in the Supreme Court verdict on the Rafale deal.

“People have been lied to, farmers and small traders are being looted. Demonetisation is the biggest scam in the world,” Gandhi said.

CPI(M) & Congress gave adjournment motion notices in Lok Sabha over Rafale and demonetisation respectively.

Lok Sabha: Bills for consideration and passing:

• The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2018
• The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018
• The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016
• The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017
• Discussion on natural calamities in various parts of the country particularly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha with special reference to cyclones like Gaja, Titli etc.

Rajya Sabha: Bills for Consideration and Passing:

• The National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill 2018
• The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018
• The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2018
• The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018

The Centre on Tuesday reiterated its stand that it was not possible to grant Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh. The central government was replying to a question by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) member  Kanakamedala Ravindrakumar in the Rajya Sabha, reported The News Minute.

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the second time on Wednesday, 19 December, after the House reconvened at noon, amid sloganeering and protests by AIADMK, Congress and TDP members over various issues.

While AIADMK members protested against construction of a dam across the Cauvery river, those from the Congress demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal. The government rejected the demand for a JPC.

As the protests continued, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned proceedings till 2 pm.

Earlier as soon as the House met in the morning, members from the three parties trooped into the Well, holding placards and later started shouting slogans.

The Trinamool Congress on Thuesday, 20 December, gave a notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha to take up a discussion at 11 am after the House resumes on ‘jobs and unemployment of youth‘, ANI reported.

TDP MPs on Thursday, 20 December, continued their protest in front of the Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises over their demands for special status for Andhra Pradesh.

Lok Sabha

Bills to be introduced:

• The Companies (Amendment) Bill

Bills for consideration and passing:

• The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018
• The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill
• The Mulsim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill

Rajya Sabha:

Bills for Consideration and Passing:

• The National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill 2018
• The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018
• The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2018
• The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018

"The country is agitated by the way the House is functioning. There are issues to be discussed," Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu said before adjourning the House for the day.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan urged the MPs present to allow members to lay papers on the table before registering their protest.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday, 20 December, announced three days of extended weekend break for Christmas celebrations.

Now, 24 and 26 December will be a holiday for the House. Earlier, only 25 December was declared as a holiday for Christmas.

(Source: PTI)

Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that the Bill will address misleading advertisements, consumer disputes, and unfair trade.

Meanwhile, BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy expressed his opinion that the bill lacks a review mechanism. “There should be a sunset clause for five years in this Bill after which it should come back to the Parliament for scrutiny and revision,” he said.

The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 has been passed in Lok Sabha, reported ANI.

Lok Sabha adjourns for the day after passing two bills, reported PTI.

Miffed over MPs holding placards inside Lok Sabha and creating ruckus, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has categorically told leaders of all parties that the image of the House is taking a big hit and has called a meeting of the Rules Committee to look into the matter, sources informed PTI.

M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned proceedings until 2:30 pm amid Opposition protests.

The Lower House of Parliament adjourned till 27 December after yet another day lost to jeers, sloganeering and protests. The House will reconvene after an extended Christmas break.

The recommendation for the Christmas break was made by MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Meghwal.

A member in the Lok Sabha on Friday, 21 December, demanded that the British government should apologise for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that happened in Amritsar in 1919.

The demand was made by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) member Prem Singh Chandumajra during the Zero Hour.

He said the Indian government should put pressure on the British government and seek an apology for the massacre.

(Source: PTI)

The politically sensitive bill which seeks to make the practice of instant triple talaq among Muslim men a penal offence will come up for discussion in Lok Sabha on Thursday, 27 December, reported PTI.

The Lok Sabha had on 20 December decided to take up the bill on 27 December after the Congress agreed to participate in the debate.

Parlimentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had sought an assurance from the Opposition that it would allow discussion on the bill without disruption.

"I request you to take the bill on 27 December. We are all going to participate. Our party and other political parties are ready to discuss (the bill)," Kharge had said in the Lower House.

The fresh Bill to make the practice of triple talaq among Muslims a penal offence was introduced in Lok Sabha on 17 December to replace an ordinance issued in September.

(PTI)

Karnataka MPs hold protest in Parliament premises over the issue of Mekedatu dam project.

The Congress issues whip to its Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House today, ANI reported quoting sources.

The politically sensitive bill, which seeks to make the practice of instant triple talaq among Muslim men a penal offence, will come up for discussion in Lok Sabha.

Speaking to reporters, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We will take part in the discussion and keep forward our opinion. We will appeal to the government that it should not interfere in a religious matter.”

The Rajya Sabha mourned the passing away of its former members Jai Narain Prasad Nishad and N Rajangam.

Nishad, a former Union minister, died on 24 December at the age of 88, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said while reading out obituary references when the House met for the day.

Nishad, who represented the state of Bihar in the Upper House from July 2004 to March 2008, was a minister in the Union government between 1996 and 1998.

He was also elected to the 11th Lok Sabha in 1996 and then again to the 12th, 13th and 15th Lok Sabha.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan was again forced to adjourn the House till 2 pm amid continuous protests by Opposition parties over various issues including the Rafale deal and Cauvery dispute.

Immediately after the House re-convened at noon, members from the Congress, TDP, and AIADMK jumped into the well with placards and started shouting slogans.

Although few members managed to raise certain issues during the Zero Hour, the continuous sloganeering by opposition parties forced Mahajan to adjourn the House till 2 pm.

Addressing the House, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, “This is an important bill and it is important that we go into the finest details. This is a matter of religion. Hence, this should be referred to the Joint Selection Committee. One month time should be given and then the matter can be taken up for discussion.”

Responding to Kharge, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that it was decided that the Bill will be discussed on 27 December. He further asked the Opposition parties to let him make him put his points forward.

He also said that the Bill is for women justice and humanity.

“Our government is committed towards working towards the welfare of women,” Prasad added.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said,“20 Islamic nations have banned triple talaq, then why can’t a secular nation like India? I request that this should not be looked through the prism of politics.”

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the triple talaq bill, which seeks imprisonment for Muslim men accused of instant divorce, is not about politics but empowerment and justice for women, as the Lok Sabha began a discussion on the contentious legislation.

"Don't weigh the bill on the scales of politics. This bill is not about any specific religion and community. The bill is about humanity and justice," he said, urging lawmakers of different parties to speak in one voice to support the legislation.

He said as many as 477 cases of triple talaq have been reported since January 2017 and cited a case where a professor gave talaq to his wife over Whatsapp.

Whereas another muslim man gave talaq to his wife for attending the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally, the Union Law minister said, urging if the house unitedly can pass a bill for capital punishement for alleged rape with girls below age of 12 years, then why not this legislation.

Prasad told the Lok Sabha that the bill has made the offence compoundable, meaning that the case can be withdrawn if the man and his estranged wife reach a compromise, and that only the wife and her close relatives can file an FRI, ruling out the law's misuse.

A united opposition in the Lok Sabha has pitched for referring the Triple Talaq bill to a 'joint select committee' of Parliament, claiming its provisions were unconstitutional and that there was a need for a greater scrutiny of the draft law.

Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that it be referred to a joint select committee of the two Houses for greater scrutiny as soon as the House met at 2 pm after an adjournment to take up the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill.

He said several provisions of the bill were "unconstitutional".

AIADMK leader P Venugopal, TMC's Sudip Bandhopadhyay, AIMIM's Assaduddin Owaisi and Supriya Sule (NCP) also made similar demands.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said a similar bill was discussed and passed by the Lok Sabha. Therefore, members can flag issues during the debate.

She said all of a sudden a demand cannot be made to send it to a committee.

Opposing the Triple talaq bill in its current form, Congress MP Sushmita Dev said in the Lok Sabha that the real purpose of the bill was not to empower Muslim women but to "penalise" Muslim men.

"In the name of empowerment you (the government) has given nothing but a criminal case to women...the aim of the bill is not to empower Muslim women but to penalise Muslim men," she said.

Demanding that the bill be referred to the joint select committee of Parliament, Dev said criminalisation of Triple talaq goes against the Supreme Court verdict.

Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in the winter session said that the issue of Triple Talaq is not related to Islam or religion but is about injustice. He also argued that the country does not run on Sharia law.

"When efforts were made to stop Sati or child labour, there were people who equated it with overreach into religion. But we overcame all that and justice prevailed. They why do we have a problem with Triple Talaq?" the union minister asked.

Suggesting that the government focusses on saving live sof people who are getting lynched in BJP-ruled states, TDP MP Jayadev Galla in the winter session said that many countries like Pakistan have banned the practice and introduced a Civil Code.

"If a man beats his wife, he belongs in jail, but if he divorces her for whatever reason, does he belong in jail?" Galla said.

The TDP MP also asked why the Bill excludes Jammu and Kashmir from its purview. "Is Jammu and Kashmir not a part of India?" Galla asks.

“This bill is totally unnecessary and uncalled for," CPI (M)'s Mohammed Salim said the in Lok Sabha today.

Questioning the timing of the bill, TRS' MP Jithender Reddy in Lok Sabha from opposition said, “We seriously question intent and timing of this bill. It seems that under the pretext of protecting women’s rights the government is breaching the trust established with minority community.”

Union minister Smriti Irani said if Parliament can enact laws to ban dowry and the practice of sati, it can also approve the bill to ban instant triple talaq.

Intervening in the debate in Lok Sabha on the bill to penalise the practice of instant triple talaq, she slammed the Congress saying it missed opportunities to bring a similar law when in power.

She said there were suggestions that dowry is a social issue between two parties. "Still Parliament enacted a law against it ... it brought law against (the practice of) sati," she said.

Referring to a verse of the Holy Quran, she said, the issue of instant triple talaq was also dealt by a 'khalifa'.

When Mohd Salim of CPI-M wanted her to name the 'khalifa' she was referring to, Irani said she can even take the name of Hazrat Sahib but would want the opposition leader to chant 'Hanuman Chalisa'.

She also said the 1986 law to protect Muslim women enacted after a Supreme Court order was not strong enough.

"Hence", she said, there is a need for the bill," she said.

NDA ally Shiv Sena demanded a law on construction of Ram temple, saying the government should be "daring" enough to bring the legislation on Ayodhya the way it has done on the Triple Talaq issue.

Participating in the debate on Triple Talaq bill in Lok Sabha, Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena) said his party is an NDA ally and had made certain promises to the electorate.

He told Law Minister Ravi Shakar Prasad that the government should be daring enough to bring a legislation on Ram temple as it had shown on the Triple Talaq bill.

He said his party demands law on Ram temple as the "Supreme Court is taking a long time" in settling the issue.

"Justice delayed is justice denied," he said.

Sawant said had the government enforced uniform civil code, there would have been no need to bring a bill to ban instant Triple Talaq.

Taking a swipe at the government, he said the bill is not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir though the state has a large number of Muslim women.

He said Article 370 which gives special status to the state and bars implementation of certain laws there should be abrogated.

"You accept the three demands and Shiv Sena is with you," he told Prasad.

The Shiv Sena member said the bill should be supported as safeguards have been made to prevent its misuse.

NCP MP Supriya Sule did not spare the government for cherry-picking issues related to women empowerment.

"So is this the best we can do for them? Throwing their husbands in jail? Should we not stress on other similar women empowerment Bills like the ones about women's reservation in Parliament or marital rape," Sule said.

"Nobody on either side of the table is against the cause," Sule said, arguing the manner in which the bill is being passed.

Asking the ruling party to not misguide the nation, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, "You are decriminalising Section 377 but criminalising Triple Talaq. Don't misguide the nation on Triple Talaq in the name of Supreme Court judgment.”

AIMIM chief Owaisi also pointed out the that the bill has no provision for maintenance of the wife and children.

The government has rejected opposition's claim that the bill to penalise the practice of instant triple talaq by Muslim men was aimed at targeting any commuinity.

Replying to a debate on the triple talaq bill in Lok Sabha, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that the opposition was not supporting the bill due to "vote bank politics".

He said that sufficient safeguards such as provision of bail have been added to ensure that the draft law is not misused.

The Congress and the AIADMK staged a walk out from the Lok Sabha even as the Triple Talaq debate was going on, reported ANI.

The Muslim Women Bill (Triple Talaq) 2018 was passed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday evening after facing the Opposition parties’ wrath. The bill received 245 ‘yes’ votes from the Members of Parliament.

The bill will now be tabled in the Rajya Sabha.

The National Commission for Women welcomed the passage of the Triple Talaq Bill in Lok Sabha.

Reacting to the bill being passed by the lower house of Parliament, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said she has seen the sufferings of the Muslim women due to absence of this legislation.

In a signature campaign launched by the women's commission, she said around 10,000 Muslim women came forward for the legislation and wanted it passed as soon as possible.

"We welcome the move. We have seen the suffering of the women in absence of the bill and we have long been advocating its passage," she said.

Describing the passage of the Triple Talaq bill as a historic step to ensure equality and dignity of Muslim women, BJP chief Amit Shah demanded apology from the Congress for decades of injustice.

In a series of tweets, Shah congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government for successfully passing the bill in Lok Sabha and said it is "a historic step to ensure equality, dignity of Muslim women".

He further said Congress and other parties must apologise for decades of injustice towards Muslim women.

The Congress has accused the NDA government of getting the Triple Talaq Bill passed in haste in the Lok Sabha keeping in mind the 2019 general elections and said its provisions were against the Constitution as well as fundamental rights.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge claimed the BJP was desperate to get The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 passed in Lok Sabha with political gains in mind in view of the impending general elections.

He also said stringent provisions like criminalisation of a civil offence were not there in any other law applicable to other religions as were there in the Triple Talaq Bill.

Trinamool Congress gives notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to take up discussion on Friday, 28 December, on ‘Home Ministry notification which seeks to invade the privacy of all computers.’

(Source: ANI)

Anurag Thakur, BJP Chief Whip in Lok Sabha, said that he was aware about some BJP MPs’ absence during Triple Talaq Bill voting. Thakur said, “I am aware, some MPs told me and took prior permission, about others we will look into the matter.”

(Source: ANI)

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Friday without transacting any business after uproar by opposition members over construction of a dam on the Cauvery River and other issues.

Slogan shouting members of Tamil parties — AIADMK and DMK trooped — into the well of the House over construction of the Mekadatu Dam on the Cauvery River.

Proceedings of the Lok Sabha were disrupted on Friday due to unrelenting protests and sloganeering by opposition on various issues, including a probe into the Rafale aircraft deal.

As soon as the House met at 11 AM, MPs belonging to the Congress, AIADMK, TDP and Left parties came to the Well and shouted slogans in support of their demands.

The fax machine of Jammu and Kashmir Governor was not working, his phone was not working and I would like to say that Governor house is not the place to prove majority but the assembly is. Governor didn't wait and dissolved it, said NC leader Farooq Abdullah, as reported by ANI.

The government should immediately come up with the Women's Reservation Bill to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies, demanded CPI-M member P K S Teacher during the zero hour in the Lok Sabha on Friday, 28 December.

According to PTI, members cutting across party lines associated themselves with the demand raised by Teacher.

The CPI-M member accused the BJP-led NDA government of not fulfilling its commitment of pursuing the Women's Reservation Bill.

Opposition parties Friday, 28 December, termed the imposition of Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir as "unconstitutional" during a discussion in the Lok Sabha on a statutory resolution that approved President's rule in the state.

President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir follows if the Governor's rule extends beyond six months.

Initiating the debate, Shashi Tharoor of the Congress said Governor Satya Mal Malik acted in "gross violation" of a Supreme Court order in the S R Bommai case that had stated that whether an alliance has a majority or not can be decided only on the floor of the assembly.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday, 28 December, hit back at Congress saying, “Then J-K Governor N N Vohra had sent report in June that no party willing to form govt in state.”

“Had BJP wanted to form govt in J-K, it would have tried it in six months of governor's rule,” he added.

The Centre said in the Lok Sabha that there was no other option left with the Governor but to recommend President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir as no party or alliance staked claim to form government and asserted that it was ready to hold assembly polls in the state.

Replying to a discussion on the resolution on a presidential proclamation about imposition of President's Rule in the state, Home Minister Rajnath Singh also rejected claims of some opposition parties that the BJP was propping up a regional party to form government.