History Created In Rajya Sabha As Bill Criminalising Triple Talaq Passed By Parliament; Check Top Reactions

Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stressed that the proposed legislation should be not seen as a vote bank politics, as it aims to ensure gender dignity, justice and equality.

The practice of instant divorce by Muslim men will be punishable by jail term of up to three years. (Getty Image)

New Delhi: Following a long-drawn out debate over the contentious bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence and provides for a jail term to a Muslim man for the crime, the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2019 with a vote share of 99-84. While the Congress opposed the Bill citing the criminal angle associated to in and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally Janata Dal United (JDU) staged a walkout, Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stressed that the proposed legislation should be not seen as a vote bank politics, as it aims to ensure gender dignity, justice and equality. "Today is a historic day. Both the Houses have given justice to the Muslim women. This is the beginning of a transforming India," Prasad said while speaking to reporters outside Rajya Sabha. The move comes as a massive political win for Narendra Modi government as the proposed bill has gained clearance from both the Houses - Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and is now slated for approval from the President. Once the triple talaq bill gets assent of the President and notified by the government, it will replace the triple talaq ordinance of promulgated last in February. Soon after the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi took to Twitter hailed the passing of Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha today. "This is an occasion to salute the remarkable courage of those Muslim women who have suffered great wrongs just due to the practice of Triple Talaq. The abolition of Triple Talaq will contribute to women empowerment and give women the dignity they deserve in our society," PM Modi tweeted.

This is an occasion to salute the remarkable courage of those Muslim women who have suffered great wrongs just due to the practice of Triple Talaq.

The abolition of Triple Talaq will contribute to women empowerment and give women the dignity they deserve in our society. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 30, 2019

After the approval of the bill, the practice of instant divorce by Muslim men will be punishable by jail term of up to three years. Replying to a four-and-half-hour debate on the Bill, Prasad  pointed out that since January 2017, as many as 574 triple talaq cases and since the Supreme Court order, more than 300 such cases were reported by the media. "There have been 345 cases of triple talaq after the judgment till July 24. I am a minister in the Narendra Modi government, not the Rajiv Gandhi government," he said. Various other BJP leaders including Union Minister Giriraj Singh expressed their happiness over passing of the Triple Talaq bill in Rajya Sabha today. "Today is a historic day. From many years, PM Modi has been trying to give the Muslim women their right and it has succeeded today. Triple Talaq bill has been passed in both the Houses. Muslim women will now move forward with freedom and self-respect," Singh tweeted in Hindi. Here's how other leaders from political landscape reacted to the historic win of PM Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajya Sabha:

A historic day when the Rajya Sabha passed the #TripleTalaq Bill, earlier passed by Lok Sabha. Govt of PM @narendramodi has fulfilled its commitment by giving justice to Muslim women. No more Talaq-Talaq-Talaq!https://t.co/KwNL7OhbJP

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) July 30, 2019

The beginning of national renaissance and Muslims coming with Hindus accepting Male female constitional equality is on. We shall to take it to Uniform Civil Code soon

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) July 30, 2019

Raj Babbar, Congress on #TripleTalaqBill passed in Rajya Sabha, today: Main samajhta hoon ki is desh ke andar kisi bhi family law ko lekar ek bahot bada jhatka hai. A civil law has been made a criminal law. It's a historic mistake. pic.twitter.com/81jEKpFfPV

— ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2019

Today is a historic day.

#TripleTalaqBill passed in Parliament, which is a very important step towards women empowerment. I congratulate Honorable PM Shri @narendramodi ji, under whose leadership Muslim women got this justice. https://t.co/abmXImXQTS — Som Parkash (@SomParkashBJP) July 30, 2019

"Today is a historic day. Both the Houses have given justice to the Muslim women. This is the beginning of a transforming India."~ Union Minister of Law & Justice @rsprasad ji

#TripleTalaqBill — Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) July 30, 2019

तलाक़ दे तो रहे हो इताब-ओ-क़हर के साथ मिरा शबाब भी लौटा दो मेरी महर के साथ । (साजिद सजनी) Congratulations???????? #TripleTalaqBill

— Dr Kumar Vishvas (@DrKumarVishwas) July 30, 2019

#WATCH UP CM Yogi Adityanath on #TripleTalaqBill passed in Rajya Sabha,today: Unfortunately people who used to speak for women empowerment opposed Bill in Lok Sabha&Rajya Sabha, a Bill which is a symbol of women dignity. Congress&their allies, SP&BSP in state, have been exposed. pic.twitter.com/Je9shas7Ah

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 30, 2019

Historic Day, Historic occasion for Nation! Our sisters get justice as #RajyaSabha passes #TripleTalaqBill today. Congratulations India, Thank you Hon PM @narendramodi ji & all Members of Parliament. I also congratulate every individual who raised voice for #TripleTalaqSeAzaadi !

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) July 30, 2019

Today is a great day for India’s democracy.

I congratulate PM @narendramodi ji for fulfilling his commitment and ensuring a law to ban Triple Talaq, which will free Muslim women from the curse of this regressive practice. I thank all parties who supported this historic bill. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 30, 2019

Lok Sabha had passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill last week and with Rajya Sabha now approving it, the practice of instant divorce by Muslim men will be punishable by jail term of up to three years. Rajya Sabha also rejected an opposition sponsored motion to send the bill to a Rajya Sabha Select Committee with 100 votes against it as compared to 84 in favour.