Farmers Movement Archive

Khaps of west UP oppose raising legal age of marriage for women, say it will increase crime

Meerut: Several khaps in western Uttar Pradesh have strongly opposed the Centre’s recent decision to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21, claiming it will "increase crimes against women” and that "the government should not interfere in personal lives of people". “Parents should have the sole right to decide on when to marry off their daughters,” said Naresh Tikait, BKU leader and head of Baliyan khap (having over a lakh followers in 78 villages of west UP), adding that a ‘mahapanchayat’ of all khaps will soon be held to discuss the matter. “Jab ladki 18 ki umar me balig ho jave hai, to shadi me kya dikkat hai? (when a girl turns adult at 18, what is harm in her marriage at this age),” asked Tikait. Echoing similar concerns, Thamba khap leader Chaudhary Brijpal said, “It will increase crime in society. Girls should be married off at the age of 16.” The khap has over 50,000 members in Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Kairana. The Union Cabinet recently took the decision to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. The legal age of marriage for men is 21 years. The government, with this decision, will be bringing the age of marriage for both men and women at par. The khaps, however, feel that rather than tabling the ‘population control act', the government is getting into "totally unnecessary" issues. Saranvir Deshwal of Deshwal khap with a large following in the region came up with a bizarre argument. “Raising the marriage age will give girls more time to roam around freely in cities, clad in jeans, and will ruin Indian culture,” he said. Deshwal added the government has only created more trouble for parents. “Why don’t they offer proper government jobs to women?” he questioned. ReplyReply allForward

The Times of India

2021-12-18

Meerut