Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow amid opposition’s ruckus on Triple Talaq Bill

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley expresses serious objections on the merits and procedures that was followed by the opposition. Says is taken him by surprise that a motion is suddenly submitted and not a day in advance.

"I have never come across a motion that was not submitted 24 hours in advance which says it will be referred to a select committee and the names of the committee orally given. This has never happened in the house," says Jaitley.

The whole country is watching that the bill was supported in the lower house and is being opposed here, he added. He also gives reasons why the bill should not be referred to a select committee.

The reason why it should not be referred to a select committee is that when the practice was declared as unconstitutional, two judges who thought the practice was 'unfair' and not 'unconstitutional' used their power to suspend it for a period of six months, he said.

“Therefore there is an urgency that the people expect from the parliament over this bill, we should behave responsibly. One party which supported the bill in the other house is now opposing it. Don't compromise with the people who talk about dividing the country,” he said.

Earlier, TMC and Cong want the bill to be sent to the Select Committee for consideration. The Congress rallied demand for sending the bill to Select Committee asking it required to be examined more and could be taken up at the start of Budget Session.

Congress leader, Anand Sharma said “the rule is very clear, if the member in charge moves the bill, it will be taken into consideration. I move the following motion, that this house being strongly committed to women's rights, wants to refer the bill to the select committee.”

"We are not opposed to the bill, but we want the bill to be strengthened. We want it to be sent to the Select Committee," TMC leader said.

The Congress, which had supported the bill in Lok Sabha, albeit some strong suggestions against it, consulted larger opposition before finalising its stand. Leader of Opposition in the Upper House Ghulam Nabi Azad had convened a meeting of the leaders of his party as well as other parties in his Parliament chamber on Tuesday.