Should marital rape be criminalized? Even after some healthy debates, discussions and open-forums, there has not been any concrete answer to this. The government's refusal to make spousal sexual assault illegal has sparked a debate on this burning issue. Today, when women empowerment and gender disparity have become hot-topics of discussion, this question is surely the one which needs to be addressed. Replying to the question on whether or not the government plans to criminalise marital rape, on Thursday, Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi said that the country was not ready for such a legislation yet. In a written statement: "It is considered that the concept of marital rape, as understood internationally, cannot be suitably applied in the Indian context due to various factors..." Now that this statement has again sparked off a debate, Raveena Tandon and Nandita Das both have given their piece of mind on the same.

Bollywood actress, director and Social activist, Nandita Das said:

"While the main challenge remains changing mindsets, the legal framework to fight those battles cannot be undermined. To criminalise marital rape is to acknowledge the fact that women have a right over their own bodies and marriage cannot take that away from them. Even before the law is made, some people are worried about its misuse. A tool that will give many women the right to escape such abuse should be upheld, and we needn't get distracted by the worry of a few who might misuse it.

The best of laws are misused by a minuscule population, but that cannot decide its efficacy or need.

Just because many cases of rape, domestic violence and dowry deaths are not reported, does that mean we should not have rules against it?

I sincerely hope that this public debate around the subject, whose time came a long time ago, will put enough pressure on the government and the judiciary to take cognisance of it and no reason will be pulled out in defence of such a crime. I am at a loss to understand the logic behind it not being applicable in India! In fact in a country that is so patriarchal, where most women are so disempowered, such a law is even more needed."

Here's what Raveena Tandon Thadani said:

"What this implies right now is that those asking for a law against marital rape want it to be criminalised under Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and not under 377, which is about unnatural sex. One has to understand the complexities before reacting."