Other MPs also spoke about their personal experiences.

Abdurahiman Randathani a first time legislator of the Indian Union Muslim League, said MPs should set examples for society to follow.

'I am proud to say I did not collect any dowry 25 years ago when I got married,' said Randathani.

P.C. George of the Kerala Congress-Secular said neither he nor his son, who recently married veteran comedy artiste Jagathy Sreekumar's daughter, had taken any dowry.

'But there have been instances when rich people who get their children married do come forward and sponsor the marriages of girls from the lower strata of the society. This is one thing which we all should not forget because this is the only time that rich people do come forward to do charity,' he said.

V.D Satheesan of the Congress said the marriage industry employed thousands of people, so the need of the hour was to devise a method to levy luxury tax on ostentatious marriages.