Rape happens not only with women but also with men. This should also be mentioned in the law. This claim has been made by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi in the Lok Sabha. Owaisi said that ‘does rape only happen to women? Aren’t men raped? There is no provision for this in the bill. In fact, three bills related to criminal laws were passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. There was a lot of debate during the discussion on these three bills. Asaduddin Owaisi raised the issue of brutality with some men during the discussion on the bill. Some of the members started smiling after hearing his claim, to which Owaisi said that maybe you don’t know about it. The three bills that have actually been passed include the Indian Justice (Second) Code 2023, the Indian Civil Defense (Second) Code 2023 and the Indian Evidence (Second) Bill 2023. After a detailed reply from Home Minister Amit Shah, it was approved by voice vote. These three bills have been introduced to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC), 1898 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. What did Owaisi say during the discussion on the bill? Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi said during the discussion on the bill, ‘Does rape happen only to women? Aren’t men raped? There is no provision for this in the bill. Aren’t men pursued?’ When Owaisi said this, some members started laughing. On this, Owaisi said, ‘You are laughing. You don’t know it happens. Your laughter shows that you know who it happened to. Justice JS Verma has said that the bill should be made gender neutral. Owaisi further said, ‘Love Jihad is mentioned in Clause 69. You will not be able to prove it. In this you have to tell that the relationship has been created by hiding the identity. That is, if a woman loves Mo Manesar or Chomu Chandigarh. If later he comes to know that he is not from Chandigarh or Manesar, will Section 69 come into action? If one’s name is common like Muslim names, will this clause apply? Asaduddin Owaisi added, ‘You removed adultery and homosexuality. It has abolished the right to have consensual relations. Even though I am religiously against it, why did you remove this right? Treason is brought up again, though the word is not used. You had given an undertaking in the Supreme Court and said that this arrangement will not be brought.
