Dharambir Singh, a BJP Member of Parliament from Haryana, proposed a law prohibiting live-in relationships on Thursday, calling them a "dangerous disease" that must be eradicated from society. During the 'zero hour' in the Lok Sabha, Singh also raised the issue of high divorce rates in love marriages, advocating for parental consent for such unions.
Singh expressed concern about the impact of changing societal norms on India's cultural fabric, emphasising the country's unique tradition of arranged marriages. He noted that a significant portion of society still values marriages arranged by parents or relatives, citing the consent of both parties and the consideration of various common factors.
"I want to bring to the notice of the government and Parliament a very serious issue. Indian culture is known for its philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (world is one family) and brotherhood. Our social fabric is different from others in the world. The whole world is impressed by our unity in diversity," the MP from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh said in Lok Sabha, PTI reported.
"Marriage is regarded as a sacred relationship that lasts seven generations...In India, the divorce rate is around 1.1%, whereas in America, the rate is around 40%. It has been observed that divorce rates in arranged marriages are very low. However, there has been a significant increase in divorce rates recently, with love marriages being the primary cause," Singh added further.
"As a result, it is my recommendation that the consent of the bride and groom's mother and father be made mandatory in love marriages, because in many parts of the country, marriage does not occur in the same 'gotra,' and love marriages cause a lot of conflict in the villages. Hundreds of families are destroyed in these conflicts, so the consent of both families is critical," he said.
Singh emphasised the emergence of a "new disease" - live-in relationships, in which individuals cohabit without formal marriage. While acknowledging the prevalence of such relationships in Western societies, Singh expressed concern about the growing prevalence of such relationships in Indian society, citing recent cases, including a gruesome incident in Delhi.
"Such relationships are very common in Western nations, but this evil is rapidly spreading in our society as well, with disastrous consequences. Recently, the case of Shraddha (Walkar) and Aftab (Poonawala), who were both in a live-in relationship, came to light," Singh said.
Such cases are almost daily, he added, referring to a gruesome case in Delhi involving a man allegedly killing his live-in partner and chopping her body to pieces.
"Not only is this destroying our culture, but hatred and evil are spreading throughout society. If this continues, our culture will perish, and there will be no distinction between us and others," he predicted.
"I request the minister that a law be made against live-in relationships so that this dangerous disease can be eradicated from society," Singh said.