Audience: Husbands are committing suicide every 7 minutes due to laws like 498, anti dowry law, domestic violence law etc.
AJ: Se, we should not change the system because of personal experience. I have slight difference with you on this. Even today, women are subjected to domestic violence in our homes and villages. I have seen this as a lawyer. Now some of the laws have become harsh. Rapes have not stopped even after stringent law coming up in the aftermath of Delhi rape case. We should not make these laws soft just because injustice was done in some cases. We should leave some functioning to judiciary only. If the experience says that the laws are harsh then let the parliament take care of this. We should not give any kneejerk reaction by saying that rape laws should be made soft. Irrespective of whether I get votes or not, I must say without any hesitation that I'm not in favour of soft punishment for rape.
RS: Sonia Gandhi said on TV that if the BJP comes to power then ‘Bhartiyata' will be lost.
AJ: I had replied to that. What is Bhartiyata? When Pakistan snatched one-third of Kashmir during Nehru's time then there was no concern for Bhartiyata. When China snatched part of Kashmir, there was no concern for Bhartiyata. When we lost 1962 war, there was no concern for Hindustaniyat? When emergency was imposed and people were sent behind bars, when 1984 riots took place then there was no concern for Bhartiyata? When all these scandals took place, you don't care. But when BJP comes to power then it's a threat to ‘Bhartiyata' because there is only one family to rule this country. What is this that if an opposition party comes to power then it becomes a threat to Bhartiyata. I wish those who are under impression that only they were born to rule this country, live longer so that they could see that even opposition can rule this nation.
RS: This question arises when BJP leaders like Amit Shah call for revenge.
AJ: See, even EC realized they had taken a wrong decision. What was the full statement? That this government is bad and has committed wrongs and therefore take revenge through ballot. Not through violence. And in a democracy, what is wrong in calling for revenge through vote? Every opposition party says that government has not done well and you should take revenge through vote in elections.
