New Delhi, Mar. 16 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Najma Heptullah on Saturday disapproved the Union Cabinet's move to lower the age of consent for sex from 18 to 16 years, saying this is not in consonance with the Indian system, society, culture and values.
"I feel that the lowering of age of consent sex is absolutely not acceptable because this is not in consonance with our system, our society, our culture, our values. We have to respect certain values in society. And the other thing is legally also. 18 years is for voting, 18 years is for marriage, 18 years for juvenile justice and 16 years for free sex. What is this?" asked Heptullah.
"I don't know understand what's wrong with the government. They should understand, they come and tell in the Parliament even if they give whatever reason. A lady lawyer was giving me (explaining) that at this age there is hormonal changes and children want to experiment. I said that we don't want that in our society. We don't want to bring that kind of a society, which we are not accepting it," she added.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, which has been brought against the backdrop of the 16th December Delhi gang-rape incident, provides for minimum jail term of 20 years for rape which may be extended to 'natural life' of the convict in jail.
The bill also provides for lowering the age of consent for sex from 18 to 16 years.
The bill uses the term 'rape' which will be gender- specific, in contrast to the gender-neutral 'sexual assault' as proposed in the ordinance.
There is also provision for death sentence if the victim dies or is left in a 'persistent vegetative state'. (ANI)
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