Kolkata, Sep 4 (IANS) The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Law Amendment) Bill, which provides for the death penalty for the accused in cases of rape and murder, or in cases of rape where the victim is left to die.
Regarding this, the All India Trinamool Congress posted on its social media ‘X’ and wrote, “Now is the time to take a collective stand! The Aparajita Anti-Rape Bill further strengthens our stand. There will be zero tolerance towards rapists and abusers. Bengal stands up for the safety of women!”
Responding to the discussion on the bill in the House, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that it is a matter of shame that the Prime Minister could not do the work that his government did. She said that since the Prime Minister could not take any initiative in the safety of women, he and the Union Home Minister should resign.
Amidst the ongoing protests across the country against the rape and murder of a female doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Mamata government called a special session of the Assembly and introduced and passed this bill.
The chief minister said she wanted justice for the victim from the CBI, which is currently investigating the case. She said the governor should give his assent to the bill quickly so that it can be sent to the President.
The Chief Minister said, “After that it will be our responsibility to implement it and make it effective. So I am requesting the opposition leaders to ask the Governor to give early approval to the bill.”
The bill will need the President’s assent as it proposes to amend certain provisions in central laws.
The chief minister criticised BJP MLAs, asking why they were silent on rape and murder cases in BJP-ruled states. “When you speak on an incident in West Bengal, will you not speak about the incident that happened in Unnao? It is a matter of shame that the accused MLA was garlanded with flowers,” he said.
–IANS
RK/GKT
