‘SP Is Progressive’: Akhilesh Distances Party From MPs’ Controversial Remarks On Legal Age Of Marriage For Women

On Thursday, the Union cabinet approved the proposal to increase the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years in order to promote women’s empowerment.

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav | MPs ST Hasan & Shafiqur Rahman (ANI Photos)

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday distanced his party from controversial remarks delivered by two MPs over the proposal to increase the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years.

When asked about the contentious comments made, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said: “Samajwadi Party has nothing to do with any such statement. Samajwadi Party is a progressive party and has launched schemes for progress of girls and women”.

#WATCH | Samajwadi Party has nothing to do with any such statement. Samajwadi Party is a progressive party & has launched schemes for progress of girls & women: Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on statements of party MPs regarding raising legal age of marriage for women to 21 years pic.twitter.com/vyaYKUwRgt

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 17, 2021

Earlier in the day, two Members of Parliament from the Samajwadi Party had shared their controversial opinions on the matter of increasing the legal age of marriage for women.

While speaking to news agency ANI, Samajwadi Party MP Syed Tufail Hasan said: “Girls should be married when they attain the age of fertility”. “There is nothing wrong if a mature girl is married at 16. If she can vote at age of 18, why can’t she marry?” he replied when asked if he thinks the age of girls’ marriage should be lowered from 18 years.

#WATCH | Girls should be married when they attain age of fertility. There is nothing wrong if a mature girl is married at 16. If she can vote at age of 18, why can't she marry?: Samajwadi Party MP ST Hasan on Govt's decision to raise legal age of marriage for women to 21 years pic.twitter.com/UZxHrMcjrh

— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2021

Another SP MP Shafiqur Rahman said that India is a poor country and everyone wants to marry off their daughters soon. 

Rahman added that “as far as the girl’s education is concerned, it happens at her home also, and can happen at the in-laws’ house also”, expressing that he will not support the bill in the parliament,

After his reported remarks regarding women doing more “awargi” if the age of marriage is increased were criticised, he clarified that he did not use the word “awargi” and his statement was misquoted.

I didn't use the word "awaargi". My statement was misquoted. I said that situation is not conducive: Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq on reported comment on the Cabinet approving to raise legal age of women to 21 years pic.twitter.com/UEmK6f33g8

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 17, 2021

The SP MP had also made clear that the comments made regarding the cabinet’s decision are his personal views and do not represent the party’s opinion. 

On Thursday, the Union cabinet approved the proposal to increase the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years in order to promote women’s empowerment.

The approval essentially meant an amendment in the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, consequently bringing amendments in laws such as the Special Marriage Act, and personal laws such as Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

The announcement for the move was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address in 2020. The suggestions were submitted through a report in the NITI Aayog by the Centre’s task force headed by Jaya Jaitly in December 2020. 

(With Agency Inputs)