As A Father I Would Have Shot The Rapist: Derek O'Brien During Juvenile Law Debate

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress lawmaker Derek O'Brien today made an emotional speech in support of the juvenile justice bill being debated in the Rajya Sabha today, saying he would have "taken out a gun and shot" a man if he attacked his daughter.

"Had it been my daughter, god forbid, what would I do? Would I have trusted the laws of the country or hire the best lawyers or taken out a gun and shot him? I would have taken out a gun and shot him. So it is an emotional matter," Mr O Brien said, and also, "I urge parliament to put laws that ordinary citizens want...I stand here to support the bill...It is a good bill and we shouldn't wait for an ideal bill."

When a fellow lawmaker remarked that he is a Member of Parliament, Mr O Brien said, "Don't take me wrong. I am trying to express myself. I am not acting irresponsible. I am talking as a father what would I do."

The parents of Jyoti Singh, the 23-year-old medical student gang-raped and tortured by six men in a moving bus in Delhi in December 2012, were present in Parliament and watched political parties debate the proposed law, which says offenders in crimes such as rape and murder above 16 years of age may be treated as adults after approval from a Juvenile Justice Board headed by a magistrate.

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The couple has been leading protests against the release of the youngest of Jyoti's attackers, who was not yet 18 years old at the time of the incident.  The juvenile offender, now 20, was released on Sunday after he completed three years in a reformation home.

The TMC lawmaker also said juveniles should be provided financial, psychological and educational support once they are out of remand homes.

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