Marital rape is not a criminal offence yet, but it should be: Gujarat HC

The Gujarat High Court on Monday ruled that marital rape is not a criminal offence under Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code. As such, a man can't be prosecuted to have raped his wife. The High Court, however, underlined the importance of criminalising it, saying the "destructive attitude" that promotes rape in a marriage can be removed only by making marital rape "illegal".

Justice Pardiwala, however, said that a wife can initiate proceedings against her husband for unnatural sex under Section 377 of the IPC. Subjecting his married partner to have oral or unnatural sex was akin to cruelty, the judge concluded.

Quoting and citing previous judgments, the court observed that though a husband had the right to have sex with his legally wedded wife, she was not his property and it should not be without her consent.

However, Justice Pardiwala cited Section 375 of the IPC as an exception: “(A man is said to have committed rape) With her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married.”

Why atrocities on Dalits, minorities, farmers? Mevani to PM in Delhi rally

Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking why atrocities were being committed against Dalits, minorities and farmers in India and charged the BJP and RSS with instigating anti-Dalit violence in Bhima Koregaon in Maharasthra.

"The way in which Hardik (Patel), Alpesh (Thakore) and Jignesh (Mevani) with the support of the youth in Gujarat brought the BJP down from over 150 seats (target set by BJP in Gujarat) to 99 seats... That is the reason we are being targetted," Mevani told his Yuva Hunkar rally in New Delhi.

"And this is the reason why the people of the (Rashtriya Swayamsewak) Sangh and BJP spread violence in Bhima Koregaon," he said, referring to the violence that broke out in Bhima Koregaon near Pune last week in which one person lost his life and several vehicles were damaged.

The rally for which the Delhi Police had originally denied permission was held at Jantar Mantar, a short distance from Parliament House in central Delhi. But Mevani and his supporters shelved plans to take out a procession to the Prime Minister's Office.

The newly elected MLA also said that when he fought elections in Gujarat he always spoke about bringing people together.

"Throughout the election campaign, we said that for 22 years the BJP followed the politics of division, while we always spoke about binding people together," he said. "We don't follow love-jihad."

"We only talk about love and harmony. We will celebrate April 14 and Valentine's Day too," he said.

Referring to the violence that marked the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle in Pune last week, he asked: "Why the violence took place in Bhima Koregaon?

"I don't have to answer it but you have to answer me... This you have to answer why Rs 15 lakh didn't come in everyone's account, why no jobs to youth? Why farmers were shot dead in Mandsaur? Why no justice to the Una Dalit victims? Why Najeeb Ahmed went missing? Why Rohit Vemula died? We'll ask all these questions from you, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji."

'Patidar only' global business summit? 3-day event to host 10k Patel bizmen

Having played a pivotal role in a closely fought Assembly elections in Gujarat, the Patidar community is making itself heard through a global business summit at Mahatma Mandir in state capital Gandhinagar.

The three-day business summit is being organised by Sardardham Vishwa Patidar Kendra, an organisation formed by the community members. The summit will host over 10,000 Patidar industrialists and businessmen from 32 countries.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, led by CM Vijay Rupani and deputy CM Nitin Patel, will look to placate the community, which had voted against it in parts of Saurashtra and has been facing joblessness among the youth. On the other hand, Congress leaders from the community are also expected to be present at the event.

Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also invited, he might give the summit a miss. Prominent industrialists such as Cadila Healthcare's Pankaj Patel, Suzlon's Tulsi Tanti, and diamond exporter Govind Dholakia, among others, are expected to be there.

The event will see business networking and exhibition through 500 stalls and a 300,000 strong footfall over three days. Apart from MoUs and investment commitments, the summit will see announcements in training and skill development for the Patidar youths for enhancing employability. 

When our soldiers fought the Chinese, you hugged their envoy: Modi to Rahul

In a stinging attack on the Congress in poll-bound Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the upcoming Assembly election is a fight between trust on development and dynastic politics.

He was addressing a BJP rally in Kutch district's Bhuj town ahead of the first phase of the elections on December 9.

He also alluded to allegations thrown at him during the campaign by Congress leaders, including party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

"This Gujarat son has no stains in his public life. You come to the state and level baseless allegations on the son of the soil... the people of the state will not forgive you," he said.

During his campaign in the state in the last few days, Gandhi had trained his guns at the Modi-led government over the Rafale fighter aircraft deal.

"The Gujarat election is a contest between trust on development and dynastic politics," the prime minister said at the rally.

Taking another dig at the opposition party, which is making all-out efforts to dislodge the long-ruling BJP in Gujarat, Modi asked, "When our soldiers were standing eye-to-eye in Dokalam for 70 days, why were you hugging the Chinese ambassador."

The Prime Minister will address a series of campaign meetings on Monday and on Wednesday in Saurashtra and South Gujarat, which go to the polls on December 9.

The elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14. The counting of votes will be on December 18.