Take up non-controversial bills first, PM Modi urges Cabinet

NEW DELHI: Days after the government introduced the bill to ban instant triple talaq and make it punishable, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested at a meeting of the Cabinet on Monday that non-controversial legislations be taken up first by Parliament.
The PM’s comments indicate that the Centre may keep contentious bills on the back burner for now and look to capitalise on a “productive” start to the 17th Lok Sabha with Rajya Sabha also conducting business, in contrast to the logjam before the elections.Modi is understood to have pointed out that introduction of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, popularly known as the triple talaq bill, could have been postponed.
Last week, the treasury benches had sought to make a political point with the bill, arguing that the government’s mandate was a thumbs up for the legislation. There is a view in the government that introducing such bills would create controversy and come in the way of other legislative business.
JD(U)’s warning during the debate on the President’s address that the focus should be on development indicated the difficulty within NDA itself. The PM also asked all ministers to ensure that there was good presence of members in the Houses daily when legislative business was taken up.
Sources said the message from the PM was to ensure that maximum number of bills are passed during the first session of Parliament. Modi also said anniversaries linked to government programmes like Swachh Bharat should be observed to create awareness and underline progress achieved in areas like sanitation.