Union Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad has urged former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to cooperate with the government for passage of the Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha.
Ahead of the monsoon session, seeking the support of top three women leaders, the minister said that the bill has a clear linkage to gender justice, gender dignity and gender equality. "22 Islamic countries have banned it. India is a secular country. Why are important leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati and Mamta Banerjee backtracking on it when the issue is purely justice and empowerment of women?” Prasad said.
Stating that the government has an 'open mind' on the clause in the Bill that allows a third party to file a complaint, Prasad also sought to know why the Opposition has issues with the non-bailable clause in the Bill.
In May, Prasad had said that despite Supreme Court's ruling and Lok Sabha passing the Triple Talaq Bill, the custom was still going in states such as Telangana and UP.
Last year in December, the Lok Sabha passed the contentious bill making instant triple illegal with up to three years in jail for the husband, a development hailed by the government as "historic".
Under the proposed law, instant triple talaq in any form - spoken, in writing or by electronic means such as email, SMS and WhatsApp - would be illegal and void.
The bill could get stalled in Rajya Sabha where the government lacks a majority and it may be referred to a parliamentary committee for review.
