New Delhi (PTI): A BJP MP from Haryana on Thursday termed live-in relationships a "dangerous disease" that needs to be eradicated from society and urged the government to make a law against it.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha during 'zero hour', Dharambir Singh also said divorce rates in love marriages were high and the consent of the parents of the bride and groom should therefore be made mandatory for such alliances.

"I want to bring to the notice of the government and Parliament a very serious issue. Indian culture is known for its philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (world is one family) and brotherhood. Our social fabric is different from others in the world. The whole world is impressed by our unity in diversity," the MP from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh said.

Noting that India has a long tradition of arranged marriages, Singh said a large section of society even to this day gives priority to marriages arranged by parents or relatives.

This has the consent of the bride and groom and arranged marriages are based on a match of several common factors such as social and individual values and likes as well as family backgrounds, he said.

"Marriage is considered a sacred relationship that continues for seven generations...Divorce rate is about 1.1 per cent in India as compared with America which has a rate of about 40 per cent. It has been observed that the rate of divorce in arranged marriages is very less. However, there is a lot of increase in divorce rate recently and the main reason for it is love marriages," Singh said.

"Therefore, it is my suggestion that the consent of mother and father of the bride and groom be made mandatory in love marriages because in large parts of the country marriage does not happen in the same 'gotra' and due to love marriages there are a lot of conflicts in the villages. Scores of families are destroyed in these conflicts, therefore the consent of both the families is important," he said.

Singh said a "new disease" has emerged and this social evil is called "live-in relationship".

Under this, two persons, man or woman, live together without marriage, the BJP MP said.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Patna (PTI): Leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, on Tuesday exuded confidence that the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC will again be voted to power in West Bengal.

Yadav returned to Patna after a four-day poll campaign in West Bengal.

“The atmosphere there is euphoric and people want to bring Didi (Mamata Banerjee) back to power. I am fully confident that the TMC will win the election,” he told reporters here.

He said that a large number of people from Bihar living in West Bengal share a lot of love and respect for Mamata Banerjee.

Responding to BJP’s allegations that the TMC had “ruined” West Bengal during its tenure, the RJD leader said the “entire country has been ruined under the Narendra Modi-led government”.

“I want to ask one question to Modi ji – you have been prime minister for more than 11 years, tell me one thing you have done for Bengal,” Yadav said.

The first phase of elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.