By Kalyani Shankar
The Triple Talaq Bill is in focus once again with the Lok
Sabha okaying it last week. It was not difficult for the Modi government to
push it through with the BJP’s majority in the house but the trouble will start
when it comes to the Rajya Sabha this week. In all probability, the Bill may
not see the daylight because of the politics involved in it. With the
Opposition adamant to send it to the joint select committee and the BJP
refusing to yield, a consensus seems elusive as both sides are looking to their
vote bank politics. Even the government’s refusal to send the bill to the joint
select committee has its own strategy.
The Modi government has sent a political signal by
pushing the legislation in the House of Representatives. The Parliament
witnessed the same drama exactly one year ago with the Lok Sabha passing the
Bill and Rajya Sabah stalling it. The present revised Bill was drafted after
the Opposition members suggested changes.
The political parties are in a quandary as to how to deal
with the Bill. As Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad pointed out in the Lok
Sabha: “What is this dichotomy? No one in this House said that he supports
Triple Talaq. Yet they (Opposition) oppose the very Bill that outlaws this
condemnable practice.” This is because no party would like to appear to be
siding with the injustice to Muslim women but they also want the votes of the
Muslim men.
The Bill comes after the Supreme Court declared
Talaq-e-biddat as illegal in a judgment in August last. Ravi Shankar Prasad has
claimed repeatedly that cases of instant Triple Talaq have been reported
despite the Apex Court declaring it illegal. Over 100 cases had come up since
the verdict and hence, the need for legislation, he asserts.
The vocal opposition to the Bill were witnessed in the
Lok Sabha once again when it was passed amidst noisy scenes last week. The
speeches of the opposition and the ruling party were on the expected lines
depending on their party affiliation. Several leaders made moving speeches from
both sides. The divide was clear when many Opposition parties including the
AIADMK, TRS, RJD, TDP, TMC, SP, AIMIM, IUML and the BJD besides the Congress
and the CPI(M) demanded that the Bill be sent to a joint select committee in
the Lok Sabha debate. The Congress and
the AIADMK even walked out. The BJP had the support of only its allies, the
Shiv Sena and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), to push the Bill.
The main thrust of the Opposition was that the bill was
passed for political gains. The ruling party, on its part accused the opposition
of stalling the bill for exactly the same, i.e., political gains. The
unfortunate result is that the Bill is stuck. This despite the fact that the
government has improved on the earlier Bill and incorporated some suggestions
made by various groups. The Opposition pointed out that the Bill criminalizes
an essentially civil matter. They argue that once the husband goes to jail all
possibilities of reconciliation will end. The BJP, on the other hand, is
opposed to sending the Bill to a joint select committee on the grounds that it
will further delay an important legislation. The government is keen to get it
passed as soon as possible as it will give the party some electoral
advantage.
As to the complexity of the issue, it is pure politics.
Every political party wants the votes of the Muslims. Even the BJP is looking
for the incremental votes it might need in the 2019. Muslims have a decisive
presence in 90 districts, 100 Lok Sabha constituencies and 720 Assembly seats
all across the country.
Secondly, the BJP would like to divide the Muslim votes.
The party has put the Congress and other opposition parties who do not want to
antagonise the Muslims in a catch-22 situation by forcing a reform through the
Triple Talaq bill, as the opposition conveniently prefers the matter to be
dealt with by the community internally.
No doubt it would have been ideal if both houses of
Parliament had passed the Bill unanimously but with elections round the corner,
it is not going to happen. Either way, it is a win-win situation for the BJP.If
the Bill were to be passed, the Government would tom-tom its success. If the
Opposition blocks it, the Government would malign the opposition parties as
pseudo-secular and real enemies of Muslim women. The ultimate sufferers are the
Muslim women who continue to face the “Talaq Talaq, Talaq” three times for a
divorce.
Political parties should realise that this is not the
only issue for empowerment of Muslim women they need better health, education
and job facilities. A lip-service of sympathy alone will not get them votes. (IPA Service)
The post Bipartisan Politics Over Triple Talaq Bill appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.
