Indian minister denigrates women for live-in relations

NEW DELHI, Nov 18 (BBC): A federal minister in India has stirred a controversy after he blamed live-in relationships for a murder case that has made headlines in the country.

Shraddha Walkar was killed in May, allegedly by her live-in partner, who has been arrested and charged with murder.

Minister Kaushal Kishore said that such crimes are taking place because of "mistakes" made by "educated women".

"They are the ones who get stuck in such situations," he told a TV channel.

Live-in relationships are still frowned upon in India, where marriage is viewed as an essential part of a woman's life.

In an interview the CNN-News18 channel on Thursday, Mr Kishore said that educated women in India had strayed from their traditions and were opting to live with their partners before marriage.