Indian government remains unconvinced about criminalising marital rape as Minister for Women and Child Development told the parliament on Thursday that the concept of marital rape, as understood internationally, could not be suitably applied in the Indian context.
“It is considered that the concept of marital rape, as understood internationally, cannot be suitably applied in the Indian context due to various factors like level of education/illiteracy, poverty, myriad social customs and values, religious beliefs, mindset of the society to treat the marriage as a sacrament, etc,” Maneka Gandhi said in a written reply in the Upper House in response to a question on whether the government plans to criminalise marital rape.
The public places where women in India are raped
A recent report submitted by amicus curiae Indira Jaising to the Supreme Court had called for criminalising the offence. The report had recommended that exception 2 of Section 375 of the IPC, as per which any form of intercourse by a man with his wife, who is not under 15 years of age, is not rape, must be done away with.
It also recommended that any case of forced anal penetration by a man with his wife should not be registered under Section 377, which deals with unnatural sex. It recommended that such cases be registered under Section 375 “in view of the expanded definition of rape”.
Rape victim in India asked to balance heavy rock on head to prove her ‘purity’
Many took to Twitter to voice their outrage at Gandhi’s remarks.
Congress & BJP govts have both refused to legislate on Marital Rape. Reinforces my belief that India doesnt have any genuinely liberal party
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) March 11, 2016
Just last year, Maneka Gandhi had condemned marital rape as unacceptable https://t.co/z3YQ2KY2TQ via @scroll_in
— Nandita Das (@nanditadas) March 13, 2016
Maneka Gandhi should have added another reason to why marital rape can't be a crime in India - apathetic politicians.
— Nicola Smith (@niccijsmith) March 11, 2016
Maneka Gandhi just justified marital rape. So men in India are allowed to do whatever they wish to with their wife. Wah!
— Hasiba | حسيبة | हसीबा ✋🏽🌈🍉 (@HasibaAmin) March 11, 2016
Maneka Gandhi,Please be rest assured.The 'poor' & the 'illiterate' will understand the basic concept of 'consent'. Stop being so patronising
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) March 11, 2016
Man rapes a calf
— Internal Dark Matter (@Just_Screams) March 11, 2016
Maneka Gandhi: Send him to jail
Man rapes wife
MG: Marriage is sacred, let's just shut up pic.twitter.com/RBlHa1h7es
Don't question the husband after marriage.
— Aisi Taisi Democracy (@AisiTaisiDemo) March 11, 2016
Don't question the government after electing it. #MaritalRape
This article originally appeared on Indian Express
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