Shashi Tharoor Demands Criminalization of Marital Rape in India

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed deep shock this week. He spoke at an event in Kolkata on Thursday. Tharoor stated India remains one of the few democracies failing to criminalize marital rape.

He argued current laws provide an unacceptable exception for husbands. This legal gap grants immunity for non-consensual acts within marriage. The former diplomat called this a serious oversight in women’s rights.

Legal Exception Called a Form of Violence

India has stringent anti-rape legislation. However, the law includes a controversial marital exception. Tharoor condemned this clause directly.

He called forced intimacy within marriage a clear act of violence. It violates a partner’s bodily autonomy. According to Tharoor, leveraging a conjugal relationship this way is unlawful.

He questioned why husbands should be exempt from prosecution. The politician noted even women ministers have overlooked this aspect. Tharoor was speaking at a ‘tête-à-tête’ event with his sisters.

A female college student posed the initial question. Tharoor’s reply was unequivocal. He labeled the implicit assumption that marital rape is permissible as wrong.

“It is not part of conjugal love — it is violence,” he stated. He urged the public to stand up for overlooked women’s rights. The need for a proper law is massive, he concluded.

Broader Context of Rights and Resentment

In a separate discussion, Tharoor addressed rising global animosity. He agreed that hostility toward Indian immigrants in the West is increasing. Xenophobia is becoming more visible and overt.

This resentment is not confined to Western nations, he observed. People worldwide feel their dreams are thwarted by outsiders. Similar hostility is visible within India itself, he noted.

His advice to young scholars going abroad was pointed. He urged them to gain knowledge and return home. He emphasized that their city and country need them.

The comments on marital rape have reignited a long-standing national debate. Legal experts and women’s rights groups have long demanded change. The government has previously cited privacy and societal complexity as hurdles.

The push to criminalize marital rape in India faces significant political and social challenges. Yet, voices like Tharoor’s highlight a growing demand for legal reform. The global consensus on this issue makes India’s exception increasingly difficult to defend.

Thought you’d like to know

What did Shashi Tharoor say about marital rape?

He expressed shock that India does not criminalize it. Tharoor called the legal exception for husbands unacceptable. He defined the act as violence, not conjugal love.

Is marital rape illegal in India?

No, Indian law currently includes an exception for husbands. The anti-rape legislation does not apply within marriage. This makes India an outlier among major democracies.

Why is the marital rape exception controversial?

Critics argue it violates women’s fundamental right to bodily autonomy. It treats married women differently under the law. Human rights organizations globally have condemned such exceptions.

What was the context of Tharoor’s remarks?

He spoke at an event in Kolkata with his sisters. A female college student asked a question on women’s rights. The discussion was part of a public ‘tête-à-tête’.

What did Tharoor say about immigration?

He acknowledged rising animosity toward Indian immigrants in the West. He described increasing xenophobia worldwide. Tharoor advised young scholars to return to India after gaining knowledge abroad.