The Centre on Thursday introduced the triple talaq Bill in the Lok Sabha, with Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying that “history was being created” with the legislation.



The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 was introduced after a voice vote following opposition by some members, including BJD’s Bhatruhari Mahtab and AIMIM member Asaduddin Owaisi.

Speaking on the issue in the parliament, Owaisi said that the Bill, if passed, will lead to abandonment of Muslim women. Owaisi also demanded justice for 20 lakh non-Muslim women including the estranged wife of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he referred as ‘bhabhi.’

He said, “This bill, if it is passed, will be an injustice to Muslim women, will lead to abandonment of Muslim women. What the Bill is required is to make a law, wherein 20 lakh women, who are abandoned by married people, who do not belong to Muslim community, which also includes our bhabhi in Gujarat, should be given justice.”

The Bill, which seeks to criminalise the practice of triple talaq, says, “Any pronouncement of talaq by a person upon his wife, by words, either spoken or written or in electronic form or in any other manner whatsoever, shall be void and illegal.”

There is also a provision of imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years and fine for violators. The draft bill also envisages entitling divorcee Muslim women for maintenance, reported ANI.

Earlier today, PM Modi reportedly spoke about the bill at the BJP’s parliamentary party meet before Prasad introduced the Bill in the parliament.

The Supreme Court in August had ruled that the pronouncement of triple talaq in one go was illegal. Since then the topic has been discussed at length both inside and outside the TV studios.

Critics of the prime minister allege that the latter was only using the issue for electoral gains and to defame the community since the number of women being abandoned by their spouses in other faiths were significantly more in number.