Marriage Age

I do not understand why almost all political parties have opposed the move of the government to raise the marriageable age of girls to 21 years on political and religious grounds !

First of all, the marriageable age of girls is proposed to be increased to 21 under the same laws or statutes under which it was earlier fixed as 18 years. While nobody had objected to it then, why they should object to it now, i wonder! 

The argument  that all concerned groups could have been consulted and a consensus could have been achieved before proceeding with such a contentious issue is well taken. But i am of the opinion that the government opinion cannot be faulted merely on this ground.  Similarly, the argument that when a person can cast her vote at the age of 18 or enter into a relationship at this age, why there should be a.bar to marry at this age is a childish one, i feel. In that case why don't (or rather didn't ) these people object to fixing the age as 21 years for boys?

However, here one pertinent question will rise. Aa per experts from medical field,  the sexual desire of the women ends earlier than that in men in terms of age and hence it is advisable to have a lower age for bride than the groom to avoid any disharmony at a later stage . If this is taken into account, fixing marriageable age at 21 years for both male and female may lead to some problems , as a boy aged 21 years may not find suitable bride younger than him. So it may become inevitable to consider increasing the marriageable age of boys too proportionately. 

Regarding the objections, i personally feel the girls may not be psychologically ready to lead a married life at 18 years, though legally it may be correct. We should at least allow the girls to achieve required minimum qualifications to secure a job for her to ensure a financial  security for her and also make her psychologically strong to lead a happy family life. In the light of the  recent report about  the so called 'dowry deaths', any right thinking parent concerned with the future of their daughter will surely welcome the present proposal, i am sure . However, at the same breath it can also be held that any such parent will not surely push their daughter to marriage at 18 years, just because it is permitted under law and hence there was no need to have a legislation to raise the age!

All said and done, i do not understand the logic in bringing religious beliefs into the issue as no religion talks about sacrificing girls like this.