Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader M.K. Muneer has justified the absence of party general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty during the crucial voting on the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, in Parliament on Thursday.
At a news conference here on Friday, Dr. Muneer, who is Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said the IUML was only a small party with two MPs in the Lok Sabha. The presence of Mr. Kunhalikutty would not have made any big difference since they were given little time to speak on the issue.
However, E.T. Mohammed Basheer had voted against the Bill that made triple talaq a punishable offence with imprisonment up to three years and a fine. Incidentally, the Central leadership of the IUML had earlier taken a decision to boycott the voting. Now that the party had voted against the Bill showed that the IUML had expressed its objection, Dr. Muneer said.
Replying to questions, Dr. Muneer said that it was for Mr. Kunhalikutty to clarify why he was absent on the voting day.