Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged young women to reject proposals involving dowry demands, urging a shift in public opinion on the practice.
The CM recalled an incident about a female post-graduate medical student who committed suicide after her fiancé who was also a doctor by profession backed out from the marriage due to a hefty dowry demand from her family which they failed to fulfill.
"Women should be able to strongly object to proposals for dowries if they are made. Families and society must support them because of that, according to the CM.
In response to inquiries during a press conference held, the chief minister stated that the government will be taking strong action towards the situation and that society should take these kinds of incidents seriously.
In addition, Mr. Pinarayi stated, "Girls' and women's families and parents must stop such practices." He continued, "We need to make sure that young women and girls gain more confidence to strengthen our society." He stated that everyone should be aware of the injustice of both demanding and accepting dowries.
Shahana, a 26-year-old postgraduate student at the Government Medical College, was found unconscious and declared dead due to depression over a dowry. Her friend Ruwais, a PG doctor, was arrested followed by the statements.
