"Time has come to introduce aspect of gender neutrality": BJP's Tejasvi Surya on Atul Subhash suicide case

New Delhi [India], December 11 : Amid the ongoing debate surrounding the suicide of Bengaluru-based techie Atul Subhash, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya on Wednesday called for the introduction of gender-neutral provisions to protect both partners in a marriage.
Speaking to ANI, Surya emphasised the importance of the family as a fundamental institution.
"I think the time has come for us to review many family-related legislations and, wherever possible, introduce aspects of gender neutrality to protect both partners in a marriage. The family is a very important institution--it is the foundation of society. Legislations that can be misused by one partner can harm the institution of the family and have serious social repercussions if not addressed," he said.
However, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut expressed a different perspective, asserting that men are at fault in the majority of marriages.
"I am shocked. His video is heart-wrenching. This case is infested with communism, socialism, and feminism. The extortion of crores, which was beyond his capacity, is condemnable. Nevertheless, we cannot use the example of a wrong woman to victimise other women. In 99 per cent of marriages, men are at fault," Ranaut said.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Jagdish Shettar called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
"This case must be thoroughly investigated. The state government needs to take it very seriously, and the culprits should be punished. The judiciary must take note of all these issues," Shettar said.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Whitefield, Shivakumar, confirmed that Atul Subhash died by suicide in the early hours of December 9 due to alleged harassment from his wife and her family.
Speaking to ANI, the DCP said, "Atul Subhash died by suicide during the early hours of December 9. A complaint has been lodged at the Marathahalli police station in Bengaluru regarding this incident. Multiple cases were pending against him in Uttar Pradesh.
"His wife and her family demanded money from him to settle these cases and harassed him. For these reasons, he took his own life. Based on the complaint, we have registered an FIR against the accused, and an investigation is underway," the official stated.
The case of Atul Subhash has sparked a wider debate on the misuse of dowry laws. The Supreme Court has previously expressed concern over the growing tendency to misuse Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which penalises cruelty by husbands and their relatives against married women.
While dismissing a Section 498A IPC case against a husband and his parents, a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh noted that the provision had sometimes been used as a tool for personal vendetta against the husband and his family.