Guwahati: The Assam Government’s ongoing campaign to eradicate child marriages in the state has been praised by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
In praising the state government’s move, NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo stated that political parties should be sympathetic in topics related to children.
Slamming the AIUDF’s “childish and foolish remark,” Priyank Kanoongo said, “The statement of AIUDF that the Assam government has not framed the rules is ‘childish and foolish’. The political parties should be sensitive in matters relating to children. Child Marriage Act and POCSO Act are central Acts. I don’t understand how people make political statements.”
“The model rules have been laid down by the Centre, there is no need for separate rules if the Assam government accepts those rules in their forms. It is notable that the Commission has already challenged the matters allowing child marriages in the Supreme Court. We are fighting a legal battle,” he added.
The Commission additionally advised other states to adopt measures akin to those taken by the Assam administration.
The AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal earlier said that the goal of the campaign against underage marriage was to “harass” Muslims.
Over 2,250 people have been arrested by the Assam Police so far in connection with child marriage-related crimes across the state. Police claimed on Saturday that they currently had a list of 8,000 suspects with that number expected to grow as the search continues.