Congress slams Modi govt for taking ordinance route to criminalise Triple Talaq

Slamming the government for taking the ordinance route to clear Triple Talaq, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "the Modi government not making this an issue for justice for Muslim women, but making this into a political issue."

New Delhi: In a significant development, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence after it was stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the BJP-led NDA government is in minority.

The Lower House earlier paved  a smooth road for the clearance of the 'Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill'.

According to the new provisions of the bill, instant divorce will continue to remain illegal and void, inviting a jail term of three years for the guilty. But if the wife and the husband wish to settle their differences, then a magistrate can compound the offence on appropriate terms and conditions and grant bail after hearing the wife.

The Centre has blamed the Congress for the delay in the bill's clearance.  Opposition parties including the Congress have argued that it must be sent to a Select Committee for close scrutiny.

Informing media persons that the Cabinet has today approved an ordinance on Triple Talaq, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Triple Talaq will be recognised as a crime only when a woman or her blood relative files a complaint with the police," Prasad said.

"A compromise can be achieved only when the woman is willing and says so to a magistrate. A magistrate can grant bail only after the wife's consent,"the minister added.

Attacking the Congress party for not letting triple talaq due to 'vote-bank politics', Prasad said, "It's my serious charge with full sense of responsibility that a distinguished woman leader is ultimate leader of the Congress, yet barbaric inhuman Triple Talaq was not allowed to be ended by a Parliamentary law for pure vote bank politics."

Slamming the government for taking the ordinance route to clear Triple Talaq, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "the Modi government not making this an issue for justice for Muslim women, but making this into a political issue."



Rebel Congress leader Shehzad Poonawalla, termed the decision "historic" and lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for pretending to take up causes of women and Muslims in the country.


"Sadly Rahul Gandhi who pretends to speak up for women & Muslims exposed!From Shahbano to Shayrabano the DNA of letting Muslim women down remains." (WATCH FULL REPORT)