New Delhi:
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has said she supports it, but the new anti-rape bill cleared by the Cabinet yesterday is unlikely to see easy passage in Parliament, with some key political parties slamming its provisions, especially the move to lower the age of consent from 18 to 16.
The Samajwadi Party, which like the BSP, provides crucial external support to the UPA government, has trashed the proposed new law with senior leader Ram Gopal Yadav saying, "We are opposed to the Bill. It has been framed on the recommendations of some mentally-retarded people."
The bill, aimed to provide stricter punishment for crimes against women, will be discussed by leaders of all parties on Monday. The SP says it will oppose it at that meeting and will vote against it in Parliament. Ms Mayawati said, "We will not protest against the anti-rape law."
While the BSP and SP traditionally take opposite positions on most issues, there are others who say that there is no way that the new law can be passed with such provisions.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh signalled the BJP's opposition when he said that India cannot emulate Europe in lowering the age of consent. "You cannot compare Europe with India. Sex education is part of their education system. In my opinion, consent age should not be changed from 18 to 16 years."
The government is in a hurry to pass the new law and has convened Monday's meeting to ensure that all sticking points are ironed out before it is taken to Parliament. Its anti-rape Ordinance lapses on April 4 and it would like both Houses to pass the new bill that will replace it by Friday next, March 22, when the Budget session of Parliament breaks for a recess.
The government has been keen to amend laws with stricter punishment for a wider range of crimes against women since the shocking gang-rape of a medical student on a bus in Delhi. She died in December of the horrific injuries. It had cleared a package of laws through the ordinance last month as a signal of its determination to improve safety for women.