Reduce the age to 16 for voting, license & jobs also: Chawla

 A day after Rajya Sabha passed the Juvenile Justice Bill, a senior BJP leader asked why doesn't the government allow those aged 16 years and above to be treated as adult for other purposes like voting rights, getting license and jobs.

"The government has considered the 'minors' aged between 16 and 18 years as adults for heinous crimes. But nobdy cares about the talented children in this age group who exhibit extraordinary wisdom at younger age," BJP former national vice president Laxmi Kanta Chawla said.

She said the government should make 16 years the age above which 'minors' would be considered adult.

"This will allow them right to vote, get licenses, and get a job and will benefit extremely talented minors," she said.

The Parliament yesterday passed the Juvenile Justice Bill that allows those aged 16 and above to be tried as adults for heinous crimes.

Chawla also expressed her displeasure over Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi's remarks.

Maneka said yesterday that 'minors' indulge in crimes knowingly as they know they will be freed after only a small stint in the jail. Her comments are regrettable, Chawla said.