Congress, JD-U to oppose Bill on triple talaq

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) The Congress on Thursday said it will oppose the triple talaq Bill in Parliament, saying a debate was needed on some of its provisions. Congress Rajya Sabha member and spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "On triple talaq, we have raised some fundamental points. The government has agreed on many points. "A lot of time would have been saved if the government had agreed on our points earlier. "Still one or two points are left... and debates are required on those points and we shall oppose it (Bill)," Singhvi added. His remarks came a day after the government said it will introduce a Bill in the coming session of Parliament against triple talaq to make it an offence punishable with imprisonment for up to three years with a fine. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019. It will replace the ordinance promulgated in February. The government says the Bill would ensure gender equality and gender justice. It would also help in protecting the rights of married Muslim women and prevent divorce by 'talaq-e-biddat'. The Bill proposes to declare the practice of triple talaq as illegal and provides for payment of subsistence allowance to Muslim women and dependent children. Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party and BJP ally Janata Dal-United on Thursday said it will not support the BJP-led NDA government at the centre on the issue of Triple Talaq in the Rajya Sabha. Senior JD-U leader and Bihar minister Shayam Razak said: "JD-U is opposed to it and we will continue to stand against it." The JD-U leader said Triple Talaq is a social issue and it should be resolved by the society at the social level. Razak said it was the JD-U that voted against the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Earlier, Nitish Kumar had publicly opposed the Triple Talaq Bill. Early this week, the Bihar Chief Minister reiterated his stand that the proposals to remove Article 370, impose a Uniform Civil Code and construct a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya either be settled through dialogue or court ruling. "It has been our view that Article 370 should not be removed. Similarly, Uniform Civil Code should not be imposed on anyone and the issue of Ram temple in Ayodhya be either resolved through dialogue or court order," Nitish Kumar said.