Assam's Chief Minister takes a stand against child marriage, urges public to report cases

In a firm declaration against child marriage, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to the microblogging site X on December 21, urging citizens to reach out directly if anyone pressures their daughters into child marriage. His post read, "If someone pressurizes our daughters to get into child marriage, contact me directly. To all my Bhanjis, Your Mama is always with you and will protect you from every difficulty!"

This statement follows Chief Minister Sarma's commitment to safeguarding the well-being of young girls in the state and stands as a testament to his dedication to eradicating harmful practices.

Earlier, on December 15, Sarma announced the forthcoming introduction of a bill to ban polygamy in the upcoming session of the Assam assembly scheduled for February 4. This crucial legislation is the result of extensive consultations with various individuals and organizations to address the issue of marrying multiple times within the state.

Sarma stated the bill's significance in curbing practices like "Love Jihad." The proposed legislation received widespread public engagement, with the state government collecting a total of 149 suggestions in response to a public notice issued on August 21. Out of these, an overwhelming 146 were in favor of the bill, underscoring strong public support for the prohibition of polygamy.

The bill is set to be presented in the upcoming assembly session, with Sarma stating, "The bill to ban polygamy will be placed on the floor of the Assam assembly which will commence from February 4." While the majority of responses support the legislation, three organizations have expressed their opposition to the proposed ban.