The Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is undeniably the most charismatic and loved personality on Twitter, her quick responses and the impeccable accuracy in fulfilling her duties is beyond the word praises. Sushma Ji even knows how to slam the critics out there on her twitter handle.
Well, her husband, Supreme Court lawyer and ex-governor Swaraj Kaushal is no less active on the micro-blogging site, he is much popular for his wit and concerns on various aspects. This time, his recent tweet drew enough criticism, people went slamming him for his opinion on the ‘marital rape’ in India.
It all started when Kaushal tweeted about an ongoing protest by an NGO being heard by the Delhi High Court on opposing several petitions requesting that marital rape is called a criminal offense. This retired lawyer went tweeting that criminalizing marital rape may destabilize institution of marriage, putting the family system under stress.
Kaushal tweeted, “There will be more husbands in the jail, than in the house”. To this, a Twitter user asked him if he was defending marital rape? and, to this question, Kaushal replied, “There is nothing like marital rape. Our homes should not become police stations.”
Check out the Twitter conversation here:
This conversation has simply roped in huge criticism for Kaushal, many netizens went pointing out the atrocities faced by women in abusive marriages, to others who scoffed at “A man taking it upon himself to casually dismiss violence directed at women”.
After such immense backlash, Kaushal increased the privacy protection on his account, thereby making the tweet inaccessible by most. But by that time, many had taken screenshots of the controversial statement and were responding to that on the website.
Check out some of the most explosive tweets:
What every woman wants — A man taking it upon himself to casually dismiss violence directed at women. pic.twitter.com/qawkf96g1t
— Rituparna Chatterjee (@MasalaBai) August 29, 2017
I guess that was the argument also for ‘kitchen accidents’ when women were being burned for dowry. #GharKiBaat https://t.co/avp5pFu2qv
— Namita Bhandare (@namitabhandare) August 29, 2017
Wrong. As a married man I can never force my wife to intimacy unless she wants it. Also only things which we both enjoy. CONSENT damn it
— Think QuestionEvolve (@Maila_Kameez) August 29, 2017
This is apt.
However, there are people who backed Kaushal’s opinion, many said that women might take advantage of the law if ‘marital rape is illegalized’.
On the other hand, the Delhi HC was today hearing this case filed by the NGO Men Welfare Trust, which represents the men victimised by the alleged misuse of gender laws, opposing several petitions to make marital rape a criminal offence.
And, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar allowed the intervention application by NGO, Men Welfare Trust, and allowed it to address the court.