Will work to make Freedom of Marriage and Association Bill a reality, say legislators

DMK Thousand Lights MLA Ezhilan Naganathan and Nagappattinam MLA Aloor Shanavas pledged to work together along with other allies to make the ‘Freedom of Marriage and Association, Prohibition of Crimes in the name of Honour Bill 2022’ a reality in Tamil Nadu, at a state-level consultative meeting organised by Madurai-based Human rights organisation, Evidence, in Chennai on Saturday.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Ezhilan said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reiterated that this should be seen as social issue across the political spectrum and that the DMK, VCK and Congress should work together to make the law a reality. “Even though lawmakers pass a law, it is the bureaucracy that implements it. So, we have to represent to the important officers in bureaucracy who believe in the cause of social justice. We have to work in a synchronised manner to make the law a reality,” he said. Having worked as an activist and a lawmaker, Dr. Ezhilan said social organisations were very important in society as they were the ones to engage with and change the existing mindsets in the society. “A political party takes decisions in accordance with the mindset of the people. In an hybrid system, it is a challenge to convert ideas of social activists into concrete political policies. There is resistance for it. We can talk openly about it. At the end of the day, is about not upsetting the vote bank of the majority caste. We have to push through this legislation despite all these resistances,” he said.