Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked all political parties to help pass the triple talaq bill in the budget session of Parliament as a New Year gift to Muslim women.
The budget session of the Parliament, that begins today, is set to have a face-off between the government and the opposition amid passage of several important bills including bill criminalising Muslim practice of instant talaq.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House, Modi said despite his government's efforts and people's expectations the triple talaq bill could not be passed in the last session.
He said though there should be no politics on the issue as it relates to the rights of Muslim women, the Bill could not be passed.
The government yesterday had met leaders of political parties at a meeting in Parliament House and also sought their cooperation in ensuring the success of the crucial session during which the Union Budget would be presented.
The all-party meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar, besides leaders of opposition and other parties.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also held a dinner meeting with party leaders for the session's smooth functioning and said the leaders had assured her of their cooperation.
Addressing the floor leaders of the various parties in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Modi said the government accords importance to issues raised by the parties and urged their leaders to create a "constructive atmosphere for the national good".
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kumar described the meeting as "fruitful", and said the prime minister urged the leaders of the parties to make the session successful.
"We will leave no stone unturned and persuade and request all political parties so that the bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha, as it has been in the Lok Sabha," he said when asked about the triple talaq bill after the meeting.
"We are very hopeful that the bill which is going to negate 'Talaq-e-Biddat' and pave the way for empowering Muslim women will be passed in the Rajya Sabha, too," he said.
With Agency Inputs
