New Delhi: Emboldened by the recently introduced Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, women have been marching to the police stations. Some with genuine complaints, others merely to "teach a lesson" to their husbands and in-laws.
The flip side is that several men are emerging as helpless victims and pleading to be rescued from their wives.
Tormented by their spouses, earlier they shied away from speaking out in the open for fear of humiliation and embarrassment. But now they are demanding an Act to take care of them.
Ram Prakash Chugh of the Akhil Bharatiya Patni Atyachar Virodhi Morcha (All India Front Against Persecution by Wives) says: "What they have introduced is an anti-marriage Act, which will only help in breaking the families. Ever since the dowry Act, women have been projecting themselves as sufferers to blackmail their in-laws."
Having suffered a traumatic married life, the Supreme Court lawyer and father of two children, Chugh started this organisation 25-years ago. "It's tragic that one only hears of wife-bashers not husband-beaters, even though they have always existed."
"The tragedy is that our agony is mental and the scars don't show," said Rabbi Rathi, "If your wife is dishonest and commits adultery, you are supposed to keep your eyes and mouth shut. I confronted my wife and she threatened to not only file a case of harassment against me, but also went to the extent of saying she would drag my 75-year-old father in the case, so that he is jailed.
"I live under constant threat of being put behind bars for no crime. The pile of lies she springs on me amazes me. Worst of all she is against separation. And threatens to commit suicide if I file a divorce suit," he said.
Mayank Tiwari, 50, said, "I have been married for 25 years. Recently I took premature retirement from the bank. Friction began in the house when I got my funds and my wife insisted that I help her parents financially.
"The other day when I told my wife that she could go and live with her parents if she was that concerned, she threatened to file a dowry harassment case against me," he said.
Sweeping powers
Another man in his forties said the present laws in favour of the women should be amended. The Domestic Violence Act has given courts sweeping powers to help abused wives. But what about the hapless men who suffer silently and cannot even turn to any helpline for succour, he asked.
