BJP-ruled states to make marriage registration compulsory

Raipur, Sep 2 (UNI) BJP-ruled states will formulate a uniform legislation to make registration of marriages mandatory, senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu said today.

''The BJP would ask its governments to enact appropriate law to ensure compulsory registration of marriages as it would ensure 'social security' to women'', he said while inaugurating the BJP Mahila Morcha's national executive meeting here.

Mr Naidu said the suggestions to make marriage registration optional were unfortunate. Such issues should not be viewed from religious point of view, he added.

The former BJP President suggested that respective states must also incorporate adequate provisions in the proposed legislation to ensure women's right in their ancestral property.

Asked about reservation for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies, the BJP leader said the Congress had been targetting National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on the issue. However, the Congress could not make any progress even 28 months after coming to power, he said, adding the BJP had already given its opinion on various issues relating to reservation for women.

UNI AS/JJ SP SAM DS1423