Winter Session to resume: Showdown likely as Triple Talaq Bill to come again in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, Dec 27  Stage is set for resumption of proceedings in both Houses of Parliament after weekend and Christmas holidays for the on-going Winter Session.
Yet another round of high-decibel debate and confrontation in the Lok Sabha is on cards on Thursday on the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill that seeks to put a ban on the practice of instant divorce among Muslims.
The government has exuded confidence that the draft law will get the nod of both the Houses. The government had brought in an Ordinance on the same after the Bill passed by Lok Sabha on December 27, 2017 was stalled in the Rajya Sabha.
Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday said that the treasury bench would like to ensure the passage of the Bill in both Houses of Parliament.
“We are in favour of constructive debate. Opposing a draft law or staging a walkout is part of the democratic process, but I am confident the Bill will be passed as it seeks to ensure justice for Muslim women and is against ill practices,” Mr Naqvi told reporters.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel also exuded confidence that the draft law – also called Triple Talaq Bill – will get the nod of both the Houses.
“The government does not want to do any politics with the Bill. The Ordinance brought this year has addressed some of the issues raised earlier,” Mr Goel said.
Both the Houses of Parliament will resume business on Thursday.
In the Rajya Sabha, the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018, and The National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and a few other draft laws are expected to come up for consideration and passing.
However, since December 11 when the Winter session of Parliament began, repeated disruptions on the issues of Rafale aircraft deal, construction of dam across Cauvery river and grating of Special Status to Andhra Pradesh have been forcing adjournments of both the Houses.
For their part, the BJP members have been raising slogans in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha seeking apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his baseless allegations against the government on Rafale deal.
The Congress has been consistently demanding JPC probe in the aircraft deal.
On Triple Talaq Bill, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday said that if necessary the draft law could be passed by a Joint Sitting of both the Houses of Parliament.
However, he expressed hope that AIADMK could render its support to the Bill in the Upper House.
NCP leader Majeed Memon said while it would be easy to pass the Bill in Lok Sabha yet again; problems could be in Rajya Sabha as several opposition parties including the Congress want amendments to it. “Our party leader Supriya Sule will speak on the Bill,” he said.
KTS Tulsi, a senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha member, also said: “BJP should not forget there is a Rajya Sabha”.
The BJP has issued whip to its Lok Sabha members asking them to be present when Parliament’s winter session resumes business on Thursday, December 27 after weekend and Christmas break.
The Bill was listed for being taken up by the House of the People last week on December 20 but
Congress floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge requested the Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to take up the Bill on December 27 saying his party will participate in the discussions.