News Can't impose international marital rape concept on India: Government

[Technoglitch]

The government on Thursday said the concept of marital rape, as understood internationally, cannot be applied in the Indian context.

Asked in Parliament on Thursday whether the central government had any plans to criminalise marital rape, Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi said in a written reply, "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."

Replying to another question in Rajya Sabha, Gandhi said the scheme for universalisation of the women's helpline has been approved for implementation through states/Union Territories from April 1 last year to provide 24-hour emergency and non-emergency response to women affected by violence both in public and private spheres, including within the family, commu- nity and workplace.

Can't impose international marital rape concept on India: Government - Times of India

 

[IndianMascot]

How it can be different for India.

 

[Technoglitch]

How it can be different for India.

It also surprised many because it is a departure from her public statements on the issue in the past.

Gandhi seemed to have been reiterating word-by-word the government position that had already been articulated in April 2015 by Minister Of State For Home, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhury.


Responding to DMK lawmaker Kanimozhi's question then, he gave the exact same response in Parliament.

"It is considered that the concept of marital rape, as understood internationally, cannot be suitably applied in the Indian context due to various factors, including level of education, illiteracy, poverty, myriad social customs and values, religious beliefs, mindset of the society to treat the marriage as a sacrament, etc," he said.


Maneka Gandhi's Marital Rape Statement Was A Word By Word Repetition