Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed his government’s commitment to bring in a law against the practice of triple talaq on Saturday.
Addressing the National Convention of BJP’s Mahila Morcha in Gandhinagar, the PM said that even though his government faces resistance from Opposition parties and fundamentalists it will maintain the momentum to get rid of triple talaq for the benefit of Muslim women.
“In spite of the obstacles, in spite of objections from fundamentalists and the Opposition, the government is committed to making a law against triple talaq so that our Muslim women get rid of a big insecurity in their social life,” he said.
The Modi government brought the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) in 2017 which was passed in the Lok Sabha but got stalled in the Rajya Sabha because of Opposition which continues to express serious concerns over making triple talaq a criminal offence.
Under the proposed law, a man could be jailed for upto three years for pronouncing an instant divorce (triple talaq) to his wife, which is legitimate under the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence.
Subsequently, the government brought an Ordinance on the subject in September this year which has to be replaced by law in the current session otherwise it will lapse.
The triple talaq Bill will be discussed in the Lok Sabha on 27 December after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told Speaker Sumitra Mahajan that his party is ready to participate in a discussion on the date.
At the event, the PM also highlighted how his government helped bring in major reforms and laws for women empowerment, security and safety.
“It is the efforts of this government that besides capital punishment, prison sentence in rape cases has been increased for upto 20 years. Provision has been made in law to complete investigation in rape cases in 2 months,” he said.
“The government’s commitment to women empowerment can be seen everywhere. Be it political or economic or social, many important works have been done for the first time under this government only,” the PM pointed out.
The PM also took a dig at Opposition parties without naming anyone in particular.
“The nation knows the intent and thoughts of those who never prioritised giving basic facilities to women,” the PM said.
Modi also listed a number of schemes that his government has brought for the welfare of women such as Ujjawala and Surakshit Matritva among others.
“Women are at the centre of several flagship programmes of this government…for the first time there are two women in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS),” he said.
(With inputs from agencies.)