Modi govt’s decision to raise the minimum marriage age for women has knocked the wind out of the Islamist camp

In a revolutionary decision to define the true meaning of Women empowerment and ensure their better stature in society, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday (December 15) stepped in with the decision to increase the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. Interestingly, the decision has brought the age of marriage for both men and women at par.

However, the decision has set the Islamist lobby’s posterior on fire. Though their imprudent opinion on almost every sensible decision needs no introduction, the recent meltdown of the lobby is quite an interesting show to watch.

Read more: The benefits of raising the legal age of marriage to 21 for women

Islamist Samajwadi Party after the decision:

Riding on the appeasement politics, Samajwadi Party’s love affair with Islam and Islamists is well known to everyone. Though the party is trying every trick up its sleeve to turn Hindutvawadi a few months ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, few of its leaders have failed the party. All thanks to their Islamist instincts.

With the fear of Muslim women being empowered in India being the driving factor, the Muslim leaders who seemingly believe in the oppression of women, have begun talking nonsense.

Expressing the resentment over the government’s decision to raise the legal age of marriage for women, Samajwadi Party MP ST Hasan stated, “Girls should get married if she attains fertility and maturity at age of 16.”

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Another leader from the party, that is, MP Shafiq-ur-Rahman also jumped in to share his shameful views on the matter. He asserted, “Girls will Flirt, if marriage age increased.”

He also remarked that girls will go “rogue” if they are not married at a young age. He further added, “Getting the girls married at a young age helps in getting rid of any kind of societal problems and responsibilities.”

Among all of them, the one who went beyond the limits and courted controversy is Abu Azmi. Making bizarre claims about rape, Abu yapped, “If my girl/daughter or sister is alone at home, then, my sacrament tells me to not stay near them. The Satan (Devil) might take over your spirits.”

Azmi claimed, “We are witnessing several rape cases committed by cousin brothers and fathers… This is a precautionary measure taught by our forefathers,”

Opposition spews venom against the decision:

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has also criticised the decision terming it “ridiculous”. He suggested that both men and women should be permitted to legally marry at 18.

Criticizing the decision, he stated, “This is typical paternalism that we have come to expect from the govt. 18-year-old men & women can sign contracts, start businesses, choose Prime Ministers & elect MPs & MLAs but not marry.”

Owaisi added, “They can consent to sexual relationships and live-in partnerships but cannot choose their life partners. Just ridiculous”.

CPI-M Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat also gave his opinion on the development. She said, “The government proposal would not help women empowerment. It was wrong to criminalise personal choice of adults.”  She also suggested that if the government wanted to ensure gender parity, it could have reduced marriage age of men from 21 to 18.”

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Friday, to oppose the decision, moved a notice for adjournment motion in Parliament calling it an attempt to encroach on Muslim personal law.

Interestingly, Muslim women look forward to these political leaders. The political leaders who consider the women as a burden, the political leaders who proudly admit that even their daughters are not safe with them, the political leaders who are least concerned about their psychological and physical effects. However, it is the time they need to come forward strongly against such misogynist leaders.