BJP’s crackdown on child marriage without framing rules; AIUDF

GUWAHATI: The AIUDF on Saturday alleged that the Assam government is cracking down on child marriage under the provisions of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) without framing required rules.

The Congress also questioned the BJP-led government for failing to act against agencies that are mandated to protect children’s rights.
In a crackdown on child marriage since Friday, police have so far arrested 2,258 people based on 4,074 FIRs registered against such cases, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted on Saturday that this campaign will continue till 2026 assembly elections.

AIUDF General Secretary Aminul Islam claimed that the rules to implement (PCMA) have not been framed by the state government.
“The PCMA of 2006 came into effect from 2007. Since it is a central act, states have to frame the rules. From 2007 to 2014, the state was under the Congress government, and since then, Under BJP. Why didn’t the then government make the rules?” he questioned.

He pointed out that the present Chief Minister was holding various portfolios since 2007 but after that he did nothing.
“It is just a political ploy (the recent crackdown) to divert people’s attention from real issues like the baseless Union Budget, Adani scam, etc.,” the AIUDF lawmaker claimed.
He said AIUDF opposes child marriage even though it is allowed under certain provisions of Islam as the party sees it as a social problem.

“We will support the government in taking action against him if everything is done according to law and procedure,” Islam added.
A senior Guwahati High Court lawyer, who did not want to be named, however said that laws can be implemented without making laws.

“If the central law is complete, it can be implemented without the need to make laws. There are several decisions of the Supreme Court in its favour.

The lawyer added that he was not convinced that the rules had not yet been framed in the matter of PCMA in Assam.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Debbarta Saikia questioned the government for failing to act against child rights protection agencies that have not taken steps against child marriage.

“There is a state commission for protection of child rights and similar bodies are headed by BJP leaders. They have not done anything in the last seven years. The chief minister should also be held accountable,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly urged the Chief Minister not to disturb those who have been married for six to seven years and are moving as a family with children.

“Nothing can be solved by disrupting the family life of these people. Rather, it should be ensured that child marriage does not take place in the future,” Saikia added.