TMC MP Saket Gokhale Attacks PM Modi Over New "Misogynist Rule" For Woman To Change Surname

Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale came out all guns blazing at the Centre's Narendra Modi government on Thursday over a government notification that states that a married woman will now require a "No Objection Certificate" from their husbands if they wish to change their surname back to parental surname legally.

Taking it to social media, TMC criticised the Prime Minister and questioned his claims of women empowerment (Nari Shakti). Saket Gokle called the rule "a shameless display of misogyny".

According to the new rules, women will now be able to change their surname only after providing a copy of their divorce certificate or a permission letter from the husband, said reports.

"For changing one's name, a notification has to be issued in the Gazette. These new rules mean that women who are separated or women who merely wish to revert to their maiden surname (instead of their husband's surname) will have to submit 1 of the above two documents," the TMC MP said while attacking the Centre.

Not agreeing with the government's latest move, TMC further added that he will take up the matter in the house and do everything to get "misogynist rules" scrapped.

"What the hell is 'husband's permission' for a woman choosing to change her own name?" he said. "As an MP, I will do everything I can to ensure that this misogynist rule is struck down and withdrawn," he said.

TMC MP also added in his post that he wrote a letter to the Controller of Publications to know the grounds on which the new "misogynist rules" have been introduced.

Notably, a plea challenging the new rule has also been filed by a social activist in the Delhi High Court claiming it to be "gender bias" and infringing right to "autonomy and privacy". Taking cognizance of the matter, the High Court has sought a response from the Centre.