DPM speech

Ladies and gentlemen, the deputy Prime Minister will now speak on behalf of the government.



In my speech, while elaborating on what my PM said, I will rebut most of the LO’s points and then make a couple of my own.

Specifically:

1. Evolution of social and cultural traditions demand a change in laws that govern them;

2. Polgamy: nature’s way.



Before making any reference to statements made by the LO, let the Deputy Prime Minister remind everyone that if legalised, polygamy would just simply be another option for people to resort to.

The government does not expect polygamy to be all-inclusive and universal. On the contrary, it is most likely for polygamy to be confined to the section of society that believes firstly, that it is a morally acceptable practice and secondly, that it is a feasible one. And we certainly do not believe that it will destroy monogamy.

The recent decriminalisation of homosexuality neither rendered over a billion Indians gay, nor did it destroy heterosexuality.

As you might notice, what the Deputy Prime Minister has just said, intrinsically nullifies two of the qualms that the LO raised.

Statements that:

1. Polygamy would have grave social costs, eventually leading to an increase in demand for prostitutes (in this point, the LO treats women as commodities);

2. Polygamy would have a detrimental effect on upbringing of children;

Are both just situational cases.

Let the Deputy Prime Minister remind this House of Parliament that while the Government fully understands the possible ills of polygamy, we reiterate that in cases where the ills of polygamy outweigh the benefits, rational adult citizens can chose to conform to monogamy, or remain single. And in cases where the benefits of polygamy outweigh the ills, rational adult citizens can chose to be polygamous.



Stress on the word ‘chose.’ This motion raised by the government enhances our citizens’ Right to Choice.

This brings the Deputy PM to the burden of the argument. If polygamy, practiced by those who believe it to be an acceptable as well as a feasible practice, causes no harm to anyone involved, then it is appropriate to decriminalise it.

Constructively, the Deputy PM will point to the fact that cultural and societal norms are changing. Traditionally, the stereotype of a nuclear family, almost anywhere in the world consisted of a working man, whose wife’s responsibility was to ensure the smooth functioning of the household and upbringing of children.

But these traditions arose in the social climate that existed several years ago. In those times women were not allowed to work, and people were a lot less expressive about sexual desires. In a country in which the percentage and number of working women is constantly increasing. And in a time when people are more and more expressive about their varying sexual needs. It is evident that domestic laws, such as the one governing polygamy, need to change.

Just imagine, a couple of hundred years ago, people were probably having a debate, similar to this one, on whether women should be allowed to work. Society clearly is evolving.

Going back to the Leader of Opposition’s ‘valiant’ defence of the “institution of marriage,” the Deputy Prime Minister would like to point out to this House that the “institution of marriage” is already collapsing.

Forced arranged marriages, dowry crimes, domestic violence and infidelity, among other issues brew a large amount of dissatisfaction amongst monogamous couples. Legalisation of polygamy provides people the option of finding satisfaction in another partner, if they deem it morally and practically appropriate.

The next thing the DPM would like to bring to the notice of this House with regards to polygamy is that it is completely natural. Scientific research indicates that human beings, like other mammals are meant to have more than one partner and that they desire more than one partner. So why should we combat this natural urge by imposing a legal barrier?

After having told you why polygamy can possibly aid an evolving society in attaining a marital system that satisfies their needs and that polygamy is fundamentally a natural tendency, the Deputy Prime Minister would like to again stress that the crux of the government’s argument is that polygamy will entirely be a matter of choice. There are cases in which it is a better option than monogamy. We believe that the citizens of our country, acting in their own interest will practice polygamy ONLY when it does not cause any harm to their family.

With that the Deputy Prime Minister is proud to conclude.