Coimbatore: Raise marriage age to 21, says Kongu outfits

Coimbatore: As the killing of a Dalit youth in full public view sent shock waves across the state, the Kongu outfits have again pitched for increasing the legal marriage age of girls to 21.

“The marriage age of girls should be increased to 21, when they will attain maturity physically and mentally. This would stop girls from marrying out of infatuation,” said G.K. Nagaraj, state president of Kongunadu Jananayaga Katchi.

In the latest incident, Kausalya got married at the age of 19 even while studying in college. The girls, who were in love with Dalit youths Gokulraj and Ilavarasan were also less than 21 years, when they don't have the maturity even to understand or take right decisions," he said.