Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, rebuffed criticism directed at his government's choice to revoke the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act 1935, rather than opting for amendments to specifically prohibit child marriages. He vehemently asserted that under his watch, child marriages would not be tolerated in the state.
Responding to opposition MLAs, including members from the All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Sarma expressed his firm stance against allowing the exploitation of Muslim children through marriages at a tender age. He challenged the political opponents, particularly the Congress, questioning their alignment with practices that condone the marriage of 6 to 8-year-old boys and girls.
Sarma underscored his determination to prevent child marriages in Assam, affirming that as long as he remained alive, such practices would not be permitted. The AIUDF and Congress, on the other hand, advocated for amendments to the law to ensure that its provisions would not inadvertently facilitate child marriages, rather than advocating for the complete repeal of the legislation.
Debabrata Saikia, the leader of the opposition from Congress, argued for the logical amendment of the existing law, suggesting that revoking it entirely could potentially lead to harassment of the people. Congress members staged a brief walkout from the House, while AIUDF MLAs protested by squatting in the Well of the House for five minutes after their demand for an adjournment motion was turned down by the speaker.
Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah previously highlighted concerns that the present legislation was being exploited to register marriages involving underage boys and girls. He welcomed the move to repeal the Act, describing it as a significant step toward curbing such child marriages.
The decision to repeal the 1935 Act, according to Baruah, aligns with the government's commitment to moving closer to achieving a Uniform Civil Code, as it was deemed outdated and incongruent with contemporary societal norms. Notably, the BJP-led coalition government in Assam initiated a campaign against child marriages, resulting in the arrest of several individuals involved in such acts, particularly within the Muslim community.
