After several fits and starts and adjournments, the Lok Sabha on Thursday got down to business with the Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tabling the revised Triple Talaq Bill and asking the house to vote in its favour  calling  it “a bill for justice and humanity. It is essential that Parliament talks in one voice and and not make it a religious issue”.

Speaking about the rising number of triple talaq cases in the country, the minister said “, “We did not want to victimise anyone. We are working towards women empowerment. Many nations have banned the practice. When we have brought death penalty for respect of women, why can’t we ban this practice? “ He stated that the bill was not against any religion or faith, but about the respect of women and faith

Earlier, the house had been adjourned twice , the first after protests by the AIADMK on the Mekedatu issue and later by the opposition n Congress which wanted a JPC probe into the Rafale deal.

The minister said that the bill had through amendments after talks with all sides. “

I want to appeal that on many matters, Parliament unites. So why not today? Don’t view this matter with a political lens. It’s about victims. Please unite. I am ready to listen to every suggestion.

Speaking against the bill, the Congress leader of the opposition 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 Commitee. One month time should be given and then the matter can be taken up for discussion.”he said

The Congress party had been largely non-committal on its stance on the bill  but has now not only op;posed it but will also move a motion seeking to disapprove the Triple Talaq ordinance that was promulgated in September.Congress MPs Shashi Tharoor and Adhiranjan Chowdhary have brought the motion seeking to disapprove the Triple Talaq ordinance and will object to the bill, despite the Triple Talaq bill having been amended from its previous version  — specifically in relation to the criminality aspect that had been opposed by a number of parties. Notably, the Congress had allowed the earlier bill to pass in the Lok Sabha only to block its passage in the Rajya Sabha.

 –India Legal Bureau