Diplomat-turned-senior congress leader, Shashi Tharoor on Thursday gave what he felt was an ‘important’ piece for Indian students traveling to the US on a scholarship in the backdrop of rising hateful sentiments and xenophobia in foreign countries.
Speaking at a programme organised by the Prabha Khaitan Foundation in association with the FICCI Ladies Organisation, Tharoor admitted to the rising sentiments of xenophobia and hate against immigrants, particularly Indian immigrants worldwide.
“The resentment has become so much more visible, so much overtly hostile,” he expressed. There is hostility to migrants, a xenophobia which is not just in the West but worldwide. People feel their dreams are being thwarted by people not like them. That hostility is increasing and is also visible in our country,” he added.
Tharoor’s advice
When asked about whether he feels that hostility towards Indians and other immigrants has risen in the US and Europe, Tharoor responded by saying that the feelings of xenophobia and hatred towards Indian immigrants is not just limited to the western countries anymore but has spread across the world.
For young people going to the US on scholarship my advice will be to gain knowledge and then come back. Your city needs you. Your country needs you,” the congress leader added towards the end of his remarks on the subject.
Following the discussion on the condition of Indian immigrants abroad, the wider conversation going on at the event then shifted to subject of Marital Rape. Where students present in the audience questioned Tharoor on his stance on criminalising marital rape in India.
Responding to the questions raised by the young audience members Tharoor responded by saying that he is shocked that India remains one of the few democracies where marital rape is not viewed with the seriousness it deserves, despite some very strict anti-rape laws.
India one of few democracies overlooking marital rape: Shashi Tharoor
“I am shocked to find that India is one of the few democracies in the world where the case of a husband raping his wife without her consent is not treated with the seriousness as it should have been,” Tharoor was heard saying at the event.
The veteran congress leader further expressed his take on the ironic shape of India’s legislation regarding rape, where India has very strict anti-rape laws in general but does not have legislation to hold intimate perpetrators and life partners responsible for committing the same crime.
Tharoor strongly expressed his views on how the nature of the relationship between the married couple being conjugal should in no way provide an excuse for the husband to commit such crimes.
“Why should they (husbands) be exempted?” he said. If one doesn’t respect his life partner and rapes her against her wishes citing conjugal relationship that is violation of law and violence against women,” he said.
“We think a proper law against domestic rape is massively necessary in the country. It is however sad that even women ministers holding particular portfolios did not look into this aspect,” to prevent such atrocities, ” he added.
Shashi Tharoor’s remarks come at a time when India’s position on marital rape is under heightened scrutiny in legal and policy circles. India remains one of the few democracies where Exception 2 of Section 375 of the IPC effectively exempts husbands from being prosecuted for rape within marriage, unless the wife is under 18 years of age.
According to the latest NCRB Crime in India data, more than 31% of all crimes against women are committed by husbands or relatives, with domestic violence, cruelty by husband or family members (Section 498A) forming the single largest category of crimes reported by women.
