AIUDF president Bahduruddin Ajmal writes to PM Narendra Modi on child marriage

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Bahduruddin Ajmal, the president of AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front), wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the Assam government’s abrupt crackdown on child marriage, saying it has a negative impact, particularly on women. The president has requested that the central government act in this regard.

In his letter, the president said, “On behalf of the party AIUDF, I would like to make it crystal clear that we are against the child marriage practice and consider it a social malaise that should be eliminated from society but should be dealt with compassion and wisdom.” It is a proven fact that the child marriage ratio is high among those sections of society where illiteracy, poverty, and unawareness are rampant.

The State Government of Assam has launched a statewide crackdown on child marriage since February 3 until today, which is creating mayhem, panic, and unrest among the people of the state. As per the report, over 3000 people have been arrested so far in this connection and are being put in temporary jails devoid of any basic facilities by Assam Police across the state. But as a result, the dilemma is that this all-of-a-sudden crackdown by the state government has terrorized people and sparked protests by women whose breadwinners are put in prisons, leaving the families without any source of income. It is notable that to validate their actions, the Assam Police is using two legislations—the (1) Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012 (POCSO), and (2) The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (POCM).

The saddest part of the story is that the government of Assam is carrying out this drive in a discriminatory manner by taking tough action against Muslims and carrying out an arrest drive with more severity in Muslim localities. The Government of Assam should have first taken all sections of the society in confidence to create awareness among people and to make a social drive against “child marriage practice,” but it is carrying out the drive in an inhuman manner that is highly objectionable and that is terrifying people, creating a social sense of hopelessness. There should be the adoption of practical ways to eliminate this social disease with the help of the members of society by educating them, creating awareness among them, and reducing their poverty.

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