Rajya Sabha to take up triple talaq Bill today; Nitin Gadkari to make statement on Karnataka's Mekedattu dam in Upper House

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha will take up the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill ‘18, popularly known as triple talaq Bill, on Thursday for consideration and passing. The Bill criminalises the practice of instant triple talaq with a provision of 3 years’ imprisonment to the husband. [caption id=“attachment_4912111” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of the Parliament of India. PTI[/caption] The Upper House could not discuss the Bill on Wednesday due to repeated adjournments following the ruckus created by opposition members over the Bill and the Centre’s approval to Karnataka’s Mekedattu dam on Cauvery river. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on 27 December , 2018, with 245 votes in favour and 11 against the Bill. The opposition parties want the Bill to be sent to the Select Committee of Parliament for further vetting, a demand rejected by the Centre. According to the list of business, the Upper House will also take up for consideration and passing the National Council for Technical Education (NCTE) Amendment Bill 2018, and Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Amendment Bill 2018, and the Appropriation (No 6) Bill 2018. Union Shipping and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari will also make a statement on the Mekedattu project of Karnataka. AIADMK leader and Deputy Lok Sabha Speaker M Thambi Durai has said the Centre’s nod to Mekedattu project is the BJP’s electoral ploy. The winter session of Parliament, which began on 11 December, will conclude on 8 January.