Kolkata, Sep 3 (IANS) Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday claimed that the ‘Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Law Amendment) Bill’ has been brought in a hurry.
The officer said this during the discussion on the bill in the assembly. The bill provides for death penalty to the culprits in cases of rape and murder.
The BJP leader said, “We are supporting the bill, but why did you bring the bill in a hurry? We could have asked for the bill to be sent to the select committee. But we want to punish the culprits. We want to hear what the chief minister has to say about this bill. We will not demand a division on the bill. But the state government will have to ensure that the bill comes into effect as soon as possible.”
State Law Minister Malay Ghatak introduced the bill in the House. After this, members of the ruling party and the opposition expressed their views during the discussion on the bill.
The ‘Aparajita Bill’ has been introduced amid nationwide protests against the rape and murder of a woman doctor of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The opposition leader mentioned similar cases during his speech and also presented media reports on such cases. However, Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay said that these documents cannot be accepted without checking their authenticity.
In response, Shubhendu Adhikari said that he has no problem in getting his documents re-checked. He has come fully prepared in this matter.
Legal experts believe that despite the easy passage of the bill in the assembly, it will still take a long time for it to come into effect. The bill will need the President’s assent as it proposes to amend certain provisions of central laws in this regard.
–IANS
FZ/AKJ
