In a historic but politically contentious move, the Modi government used its big majority in the Lok Sabha to pass a bill criminalising triple talaq among Muslims even as sections of the opposition demanded changes in the proposed law and a small minority rejected the legislation.

Though no opposition party demanded a vote in the Lok Sabha due to NDA numbers as well as reluctance to openly oppose the proposed law, the government is bracing for a tougher numbers game in the Rajya Sabha where it lacks a majority and the opposition could insist on vetting by a parliamentary panel.

The Lok Sabha passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill amid a demand from the opposition that the "criminalisation" clause be scrutinised by a parliamentary panel and law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's vociferous defence that the House needed to choose between procedures and the cries of justice from Muslim women.

Courtesy:Times of India