Triple talaq bill stalled in Rajya Sabha
New Delhi, Aug 10 : The proposed law to criminalise the practice of instant divorce by Muslim husbands will not see the light of the day for at least four more months as the Rajya Sabha on Friday decided to defer the consideration of the bill till the next session due to lack of consensus.
Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, has been deferred till the next session even as Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded that the bill be taken up. The Chairman said he would not proceed without a consensus.
The minister blamed the Congress for the delay.
"Sir, whatever is happening is unfair. Should the Muslim women not get justice? The Congress is delaying it in the name of select committee," Prasad said as Opposition MPs protested loudly and Naidu asked the Minister to stop.
The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared amendments to the bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha, with the fresh version allowing a magistrate to give bail to the men found instantly divorcing their wives.
According to the new provisions of the bill, instant divorce will continue to be illegal and void, attracting a jail term of three years for the guilty. But if the wife and the husband desire to settle their differences, then a magistrate can compound the offence on appropriate terms and conditions and grant bail after hearing the wife.
The amended bill was listed for consideration and passing in the day's list of business of the Upper House. However, the Opposition members objected to its listing on a Friday, which is reserved for the private members' bills.
In the afternoon, as the House reconvened at 2.30 p.m., Chairman Naidu said: "We are taking up private members' bills now and after that we will take up two government bills. And the bills are on which there is consensus. We are not taking up the other bill (triple talaq bill)."
A few minutes later he reiterated: "I would like to say clearly again that we are not taking up triple talaq Bill for the reason that consensus has not been reached on that."
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
