Smriti Irani On Shraddha Walker's Murder Says, "Discussion On Intimate Partner Violence Is Needed"

Shraddha Walker's brutal murder has shocked the entire country. Every day with a new revelation in the case, the questions on live-in relationships and intimate partners are increasing. The media has all these headlines on the case, which Smriti Irani finds questionable. 

Smriti Irani, a Union women, and child development and minority affairs minister questioned vouyeristic headlines drawing from the accused Aaftab Poonawala’s statement. She said, “Nobody cuts a woman into small pieces in the heat of the moment, and nobody continues to beat a woman who he claims to love or is in a relationship with."

Smriti Irani On Shraddha Walker Murder

She also pointed out that there is a need to speak about intimate partner violence and conversation on the subject is vital. Irani at the Times Now Summit on November 24 during a chat highlighted the abuse in the case was constant and many knew about it, still, there was no rescue. Also, her unable to receive help is an issue that needs to be elaborately reflected on by people at large. As National Crime Records Bureau has extensively reported intimate partner violence and violence by family members of a woman. 

Irani also spoke about mental fear during such situations and how difficult it is for women to escape such toxicity. She said, "It is easy to ask a woman to leave the abuser but anyone working on the issue and has studied the psychology and cycle of such violence will know that the mental fear is such that you can leave a woman in an open room yet she will not move a step."

Shraddha Walker reportedly filed a complaint in November 2020 in Maharashtra about the threat to her life but hardly anything was done about it. Irani refused to make any direct comment on the ongoing investigation but she did question why people who were aware of her state did not call the cops. 

The couple belonged to a different religion, so the issue has attracted a love jihad angle. On the matter of Love Jihad a question in turn: “When you defraud a woman with the intent to bring her into a fraudulent relationship ... can't state government brings a law?” 

Suggested Reading- Shraddha Walkar Murder: Red Flags In Toxic Relationships We Often Miss