UP Governor Anandiben Patel warns women against live-in relationships: 'Stay away, or you’ll be found in 50 pieces'
PTC Web Desk: In a fresh controversy, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has issued a strong warning to young women against entering live-in relationships, cautioning them to “stay away, otherwise you will be found in 50 pieces.” The remark came during her address at the 47th convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith in Varanasi on Wednesday.
This was the second time in two days that the Governor made statements condemning live-in relationships. Earlier, while speaking at the convocation of Jananayak Chandrashekhar University in Ballia, she had remarked that the consequences of such relationships could be seen in orphanages where “girls as young as 15 to 20 years stand in line, each holding a one-year-old child.”
During her Varanasi address, Anandiben Patel, who also serves as the Chancellor of all state universities, voiced deep concern over the rising incidents of violence and exploitation faced by women in modern relationships. She urged female students to take thoughtful decisions regarding their personal lives and to stay away from situations that may lead to harm or abuse.
“I have one message for our daughters: live-in relationships may seem fashionable today, but don’t get into them. You have seen what happens—found in 50 pieces. In the past 10 days, I’ve read multiple reports of such horrific cases. Every time, I wonder why our daughters make these choices,” the Governor said emotionally.
She also referred to her experiences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, saying she had personally interacted with many affected girls, each with a heart-wrenching story of betrayal and suffering. She recounted a conversation with a judge who expressed similar concerns and stressed the need for universities to create awareness among young women about the potential dangers of live-in relationships.
Condemning the growing trend of live-in partnerships, the Governor said such relationships are driven by “greed” and a lack of moral values. “They (men) take young women to hotels, lure them with affection, have children, and then abandon them. These are not our values. Such incidents are increasing, and we must guide our daughters to choose a better path,” she added.
She appealed to educational institutions to spread awareness and encourage young women to focus on building strong, self-reliant lives instead of falling prey to emotional exploitation in the name of modernity.
- With inputs from agencies
