With countrywide outrage over the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a plea challenging the release of the juvenile convict in the Delhi gangrape case, the Rajya Sabha on Monday decided to push discussions on the Juvenile Justice Bill to Tuesday, PTI reported. The matter has gained urgency against the backdrop of the release of the juvenile in the December 16 gangrape-murder.

However, in a rare development, political lines blurred in the Upper House as lawmakers sought to have the Juvenile Justice Bill passed post haste. Wanting parties to “rise above politics,” Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said, “We want the government to list this Bill as soon as possible. It should be listed today or tomorrow. We should discuss this Bill for 4 to 5 hours, move the amendments and pass it before Wednesday. No deliberate delaying tactics on this, the issue is very serious.”

The Bill seeks to amend the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, by including a provision, among others, to allow youth between the age of 16 and 18 to be tried as adults for heinous crimes.

According to Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, the government is ready and very keen to pass this Bill, but he blamed the Opposition, particularly the Congress, for the delay in legislative processes. Over the last two weeks, both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have seen repeated adjournments as Opposition parties created uproar in the houses over issues such as the National Herald case and the ongoing matter concerning Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. This has resulted in several bills remaining pending.

While Union Minister Uma Bharati also appealed to Congress President Sonia Gandhi to allow the passage of the Bill “in the interest of the girls in the country,” party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad guaranteed the Congress’ support for the Bill if it is brought up on Tuesday.