Triple Talaq: NDA divided, opposition united in RS over the bill, TDP leaves hands of BJP

New Delhi: Triple Talaq Bill created division in BJP led National Democratic Alliance as Telugu Desam Party joined the opposition in Rajya Sabha and demanded that the bill be sent to Select Committee.

TDP supported the resolution moved by Congress MP Anand Sharma. Entire opposition including DMK, AIADMK, Trinamool Congress, SP and BSP supported the resolution and demanded that the bill be referred to Select Committee for further consideration.

It may be noted that DMK and AIADMK, SP and BSP despite political differences came together to support the resolution. TDP which always stands with BJP since the alliance came to power in AP, withdrew its support to the bill.

On the other hand, BJP Ministers including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad insisted that the bill cannot be referred.

When Triple Talaq Bill was taken up in Rajya Sabha which met late afternoon after many adjournments due to the atrocities against Dalits in Maharashtra, Anand Sharma moved the resolution to send the Bill to the Select Committee.

When Mr. Jaitley and Mr. Prasad resisted the resolution, the opposition said that the Chair should accept the resolution recognizing their majority in the upper House. Ultimately, no decision was taken and the House was adjourned for the day.

It may be mentioned that TDP who always used to support NDA, left the hands of BJP over Triple Talaq. It seems like TDP is signaling its independence. In Lok Sabha, this bill was passed with the support of all NDA parties.

All members dismissed the charges leveled by the Ministers that the opposition is against Muslim women. They repeatedly said that they support the bill but wanted it to be referred to Select Committee. They further said that they will not allow the government to pass defective legislation.

Meanwhile, few MPs also said that if BJP is concerned about women, it should bring Women’s Reservation Bill.

During the discussion, Anand Sharma said that Parliament cannot function as the rubber stamp of the government whereas SP’s leader, Naresh Agarwal said that if one house of the parliament makes mistake, other house can correct it.