On Triple Talaq Bill, Government, Opposition Clash Again

A fresh bill to make instant Muslim divorce or "triple talaq" illegal, which got stalled in the upper house of parliament and lapsed, was introduced in the Lok Sabha today. The government countered the opposition's claim that it was a "discriminatory" bill by pointing out that the Supreme Court's order banning the controversial Islamic practice needs to be followed up with a strong law. "...There have been triple talaqs since 2017 even after the judgement. What should the women do? Hang the judgement on the wall?" Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said after introducing the bill in the Lok Sabha. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 will replace an ordinance issued in February by the previous BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government. The bill had failed to clear the Rajya Sabha test earlier.