Smriti Irani introduces amended Marriage Act amid uproar in Lok Sabha

Amid Opposition uproar, Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani introduced The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

New Delhi: Amid Opposition uproar Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani introduced The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

According to the Bill, the minimum age of marriage of women will be increased from 18 years to 21 years. The Bill has been sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee. The opposition has been demanding that the Bill be sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for further consideratioṇ.

Terming the Bill as a "retrogressive amendment", AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that it was against the right to freedom under Article 19 of the Constitution. "Retrogressive amendment. It's against the right to freedom under Art 19. An 18-yr-old can choose a PM, can have a live-in relationship but you are denying the right to marriage. What have you done for an 18-year-old? Women labour force participation in India lower than Somalia," said Owaisi.

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said, "I oppose the way in which the Govt has brought the Bill in a hurry. This Bill needs total discussion among all stakeholders. The minority people are totally opposed to this Bill."

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury made similar demands. "We'd like to advise the Govt that mistakes happen when work is done in haste. A lot of discussions is being done in India over this matter. Govt has neither spoken to any stakeholder nor consulted any state. We demand that the Bill be referred to Standing Committee," said Chowdhury.