NRIs allege misuse of Indian dowry laws

New Dehi, Jan 5 (UNI) Indian dowry Laws have made marriage a nightmare for NRI husbands; so say members of an international group claiming to represent "falsely accused men and their families." Ahead of the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, beginning here on January 7, the group alleged that Section 498 (a) of the Indian Penal Code had been misused against NRI husbands and their families.

The controversial section was incorporated in the IPC through an amendment in 1983 to accord protection to women against cruelty and dowry-related issues.

Dr Anupama Singh, Media Coordinator of "498.org,"an international organisation focused on researching the impact of misuse of the concerned section of the IPC, said here today that the government had failed to identify the real reasons for failing marriages. But instead started resorting to punitive measures which only added to the harassment of NRI husbands and their families in India.

Pointing out that Section 498(a) had been misused as could be gauged from the low conviction rate in such cases, she said the organisation had received more than 325 complaints from NRI husbands in the last ten months.

Out of this, 150 are from the United States with most of them being software engineers, doctors or professionals. A sizeable number of them studied in India's elite institutions like the IITs.

Quoting recent media reports, she said 300 Red Corner Notices and 27 extradition notices had been issued against NRIs hailing from Andhra Pradesh alone by the Interpol in accordance with a pact that India government had signed with it.

"Are all 300 guilty fit to be treated at a par with criminals like Dawood Ibrahim and Abu Salem?" she asks.

Dr Singh alleged that NRIs were being unfairly targeted by the Indian government despite their meaningful contribution to the development of India.

She took serious exception to the booklet-- Marriages to Overseas Indians--which was published by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, and said it was "highy-biased and factually inaccurate." "The book paints NRI men as crooks out to dupe their Indian brides and claims that a high percentage of NRI marriages fail," she complained.

This book is going to be a part of the materials being given to the delegates of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held here during January 7-9.

UNI