Rajya Sabha passes Triple Talaq Bill with just 99 votes amid walkouts 

New Delhi: The Triple Talaq Bill, which was passed three times by the Lok Sabha over the last 19 months, on Tuesday, received the approval of the Rajya Sabha, amid walkouts by the Bharatiya Janata Party allies JD(U) and AIADMK.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Marriage) Bill, 2019, which makes the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence, was cleared by the House with 99 votes in favour and 84 opposing it. Absenteeism of nearly 20 opposition MPs also helped the government get its legislation through in the upper house where the ruling party does not enjoy a majority.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet, 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.”

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

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 30, 2019

Modi further said that it would contribute in women empowerment and added, “This is an occasion to salute the remarkable courage of those Muslim women who have suffered great wrongs just due to the practice of triple talaq. The abolition of Triple Talaq will contribute to women empowerment and give women the dignity they deserve in our society.”

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

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 30, 2019

Leader of the opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad, termed the bill a “politically motivated” move to destroy Muslim households, while law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “Since January 2017, (there have been) as many as 574 triple talaq cases and since the Supreme Court order to struck it down, more than 300 such cases were reported by the media.”

Earlier this month, there were speculations that the bill might not pass through the Rajya Sabha as the BJP didn’t have the numbers. However, with many members of the opposition walking out, including Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR), the bill went through the Upper House.

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