Fresh push to juvenile amendment likely today

Cutting across party lines, MPs on Monday sought the quick passage of amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act amid raging protests over the release of the juvenile convict in the horrific December 16, 2012 gangrape. But as political parties showed unanimous will for the quick passage of the bill, the BJP and Congress resorted to a bitter blame game over the delay in clearing legislation, as the latter pointed out that “the Nirbhaya accused will not be affected even if it ( bill) is passed”, as it cannot be applied retrospectively. Congress leader Pramod Tiwary said the “government is guilty for release of the accused and of not being able to pass the bill”, that was strongly dismissed by parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, who accused the Congress of “obstructing” legislative business, thus causing the delay.

The Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill, that has already been passed in the Lok Sabha, will be discussed in the Upper House on Tuesday, and the deceased December 16 gangrape victim’s parents are expected to be present in the House gallery during the discussion. The parents of the victim also met Leader of the Opposition Gulam Nabi Azad on Monday, where the Congress leader is learnt to have assured them his party will back the bill. The bill is likely to be passed unanimously as deputy chairman P. J. Kurien said in the Rajya Sabha Monday that all political parties were on board for early passage of the bill. The

amendments to Juvenile Justice Act will allow children between 16 and 18 to be tried as adults in cases of heinous crimes.

As the Supreme Court took up the petition over the release of the juvenile convict, a blame game erupted in Parliament between the government and Opposition, with Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and CPI( M) leader Sitaram Yechury accusing the government in the Rajya Sabha of bringing the bill as an “‘ afterthought”. Saying the “Nirbhaya accused will not be affected even if it ( bill) is passed”, Congress leader Pramod Tiwary charged that the “government is guilty for the release of the accused and of not being able to pass the bill”.

As Mr Yechury accused the NDA government of “posturing” and “delay”, and demanded to know why the bill could not be listed for Monday, Mr Naidu accused the Opposition of not allowing the House to work for passage of the amendment early in December before the juvenile’s release. The Chair, however, asked all parties not to resort to a “blame game” on such a sensitive issue, assuring all that the bill will be discussed on Tuesday, and expressing confidence on its quick passage. “We are ready to bring a supplementary agenda for this today itself,” Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said outside Parliament, adding that the government “is ready and very keen to pass the Juvenile Bill”. Targeting the Congress, he added “the bill has been thrice listed in the past for consideration and passage in Rajya Sabha; however, the House has not been able to run”. He added: “Because of the Opposition, particularly Congress, the bill till date has not been passed. There is concern and outrage in the country... I would appeal to the Congress to help in getting the bill passed. I hope it will cooperate.”

Trinamul leader Derek O’Brien said in the Rajya Sabha that it was on his notice that the House had taken up the issue, as he urged various parties to rise above politics and allow the passage of the bill. “The nation wants this bill passed. In the next two days, the parties should rise above politics and pass this bill. I appeal to the Congress Party for it,” he said. Mr O’Brien asked the government to list the bill as soon as possible, saying that would allow a detailed discussion on the proposed amendments. “We should discuss this bill for 4- 5 hours, move the amendments and pass it before Wednesday. No deliberate delaying tactics on this, the issue is very serious,” he said. Union minister Uma Bharati said she will appeal to Congress president Sonia Gandhi to allow passage of the bill in the interests of girls in the country. “I would also tell Nirbhaya’s parents that the court decision was within the criminal law of the country. We have to change the law and we are ready to do so. This is an issue of concern for the country... Because he was not 18 years old, he went free,” she said.