Seven Bills Which The Opposition Wants Govt To Send To Rajya Sabha Select Committee

The centre has been successful in passing several bills in the Lok Sabha because of their majority in spite of opposition from opposition parties

File Image: PTI

New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday tabled the most talked about The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Marriage) Bill 2019 in the Lok Sabha amid protest from the opposition. The bill criminalises triple talaq - instant divorce by Muslim men and seeks jail term for those guilty. The Opposition says the bills needs to be scrutinized, studied and discussed and need to be moved to the Select Committee.  Here are all the bills which are being currently opposed by the opposition. Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Marriage) Bill 2019: The first draft legislation was tabled by the Narendra Modi government in this first session after it took oath of office for a second term in May. Several opposition parties have bitterly opposed it but the government has asserted that the bill is a step towards gender equality and justice. Parties like the Congress, the Trinamool Congress and the DMK have demanded that it be sent to a parliamentary committee for scrutiny. Right to Information (Amendment) Bill 2019: On Monday, the Lok Sabha passed The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to give the government powers to fix salaries, tenures and other terms and conditions of employment of information commissioners. The Opposition parties have accused the union government of trying to make the Central Information commission a toothless body and compromising on its independence. As soon as the House resumed in afternoon, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said,"Not a single bill has gone to standing or select committee. There are two important bills listed today. But the bill related to Children is for their protection. However the second bill on right to information should go to standing or select committee."   The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday approved a bill to amend an anti-terror law aimed at allowing the government to designate an individual as a terrorist. The opposition Congress and the TMC boycotted the proceedings ahead of voting on the bill. Hitting out at the Congress for opposing the amendments, BJP Chief Amit Shah said if the UPA was correct in amending anti-terror laws in their tenure, then so is the NDA. Reiterating the zero tolerance policy of the Modi government against terrorism, Shah said the objective of the proposed amendments is to facilitate speedy investigation and prosecution of terror offences and designating an individual as terrorist in line with the international practices. The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019: A bill to help adjudicate disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valleys at a faster pace was introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday amid protests by opposition parties which said states were not consulted. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, B Mahtab (BJD) and T R Baalu objected to the introduction, saying the bill does not explain whether states were consulted as water is a state subject. Mahtab said while the intent of the bill is not under doubt, the states should have been consulted. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill 2019: The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 24. Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday defended amendments to an anti-terror law, saying they are essential to keep law enforcement agencies one step ahead of terrorists. Hitting out at the Congress for opposing the amendment, he said if the UPA was correct in amending anti-terror laws in their tenure, then so is the NDA. He said, in the name of ideology, some people promote urban Maoism and the government has no sympathy towards them. The government fights terrorism and it should not matter which party is in power, Shah said, referring to amendments made in anti-terror laws by successive governments. The Code Wages Bill: Code on Wages Bill seeks to replace existing laws related to workers remuneration, was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday. The Code on Wages will replace the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.