Lok Sabha MP and All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the Union Government on Friday for its decision to raise the minimum age for marriage for women from 18 to 21 terming it “ridiculous” and “paternal.”
In a series of tweets, Owaisi that if 18 year old men and women can enter into contracts, start businesses, choose Prime Ministers & elect MPs & MLAs but not marry?
Modi govt has decided to increase the age of marriage for women to 21. 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? 1/n
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) December 17, 2021
They can consent to sexual relationships and live-in partnerships but cannot choose their life partners? Just ridiculous, Owaisi tweeted.
Both men & women should be allowed to legally marry at 18 as they’re treated as adults by the law for all other purposes.
"18 साल में PM-MLA चुन सकते हैं, तो जीवनसाथी क्यों नहीं"…
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) December 18, 2021
शादी की उम्र 21 साल करने पर बोले: @asadowaisi#Delhi pic.twitter.com/IwHnQ91Tg3
In many US states, marriage age is as low as 14. In UK & Canada, it’s 16. In NZ, 16-19 year olds can marry with parental consent.
These nations improved human development of young people so that they can take informed decisions rather than fixing arbitrary age restrictions, Owaisi said.
