New Delhi: In a major boost to governments endeavour for gender equality for Muslim women, the triple talaq Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha after a heated debate lasting four hours amid some walkouts. With numbers favouring the BJP-led NDA in the Lower House, the Bill did not have much trouble to sail through.

The Congress, along with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and AIADMK, chose to walk out and not take part in the voting. During the debate, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked, “We have already tweaked the Bill. Why send it to select committee now?”

But the Congress was insistent upon bringing in a parallel of the Sabarimala issue, accusing the BJP of “double standards’ on the issue of the dignity of women. But away from the political mudslinging, scores of Muslim women took to the streets to celebrate. However, the real test for the government lies in the Upper House where it does not have adequate numbers.