Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad has filed for sending the proposed ‘Triple Talaaq’ bill before a parliamentary review committee as the Party felt strongly that it was totally unacceptable in its present version.

The Supreme Court had earlier held that the Bill was ‘unconstitutional’ and asked the BJP-led Govt. at the Centre to get it passed in Parliament. The controversial Bill, which will make it mandatory for Muslim men who divorce their wives by saying ‘talaaq’ triple times to spend upto a maximum of three years in prison, was passed by the Lok Sabha last week with Congress and AIADMK MPs stating a walk-out.

The Bill is presently being debated by the Rajya Sabha where the BJP is in a minority. It may be recalled that the Centre passed an ordinance in the triple talaaq issue in September last year but now faces hurdles in getting the Bill cleared by the Rajya Sabha despite the Centre incorporating a few changes in the Bill which provides for bail for men who are arrested for saying ‘talaaq’ thrice to divorce their wives.

Union Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad introduced the Bill in the Rajya Sabha and pleaded with the Members to agree for a joint debate. Responding, Ghulam Nabi Azaid said that the Centre was doing away with the tradition of sending any Bill to the review committee before getting it passed formally by the Parliament. “We want the Bill to be sent to the review committee,” Azad added.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel expressed disappointment at Congress’ decision stating that the party had earlier supported the Govt.’s stance on the issue but was backtracking now. Azad said that the Congress wasn’t going back on its words and said that he only wanted the Bill to be reviewed by the Committee before it is passed by the Upper House. In his petition seeking review of the Bill, Azad has also named a few Congress MPs to be included in the review committee.