Picture : ANI/ X
West Bengal assembly has unanimously passed the state anti-rape bill which seeks capital punishment for rape convicts if their actions result in the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state and stipulates life sentence without parole for other perpetrators.
Speaking during discussions on the bill at the assembly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the chief ministers of all states that have “not been able to implement effective legislations to safeguard women”.
The bill, titled Aparajita Woman and Child Bill(West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposed to amend the newly passed Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 laws and the POCSO Act 2012 “in their application to the state of West Bengal to enhance punishment and to constitute the framework for… expeditious investigation and trial of the heinous act of violence against women and children.”
A special two-day session of the House was convened by the government for introduction and passage of the bill, which was moved in the wake of widespread and continuing protests that have rocked the state in the aftermath of the alleged rape and murder of a post graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
The bill was passed after the BJP MLAs, comprising the Opposition in the House, lent their support to it despite state Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s allegation that Banerjee moved the bill to “divert attention from public anger and protests” over the gruesome crime.
Amid chaotic scenes on the floor of the House when BJP legislators raised slogans demanding the chief minister’s resignation over the crime, Banerjee also demanded Adhikari’s resignation for obstructing the proceedings for passage of the bill.
“We wanted the Centre to amend its existing laws and include stricter clauses to ensure exemplary punishment for perpetrators and quicker justice to victims. They showed no enthusiasm for it. That’s why we made the move first. This bill, once enacted, can serve as a model for the rest of the country,” she said.
he state will form a special Aparajita Task Force from among the state police force to ensure time-bound completion of the probe, the chief minister said, citing provisions of the draft legislation.
Hailing the billas “historic”, Banerjee said through the proposed legislation her government tried to “plug the loopholes that exist in the central legislations”, in terms of speedy and effective disposal of justice to victims and their kin.
Banerjee also urged the Opposition to impress upon the governor to sign the billwithout delay, while asserting that it would be the state government’s responsibility for its effective enactment following the assent of Raj Bhavan and the President.
“We want justice from the CBI and death by hanging of the guilty,” Banerjee said while expressing sadness over the rape and murder of the RG Kar medic and sympathies for the victim’s kin.
Adhikari, on the other hand, accused the TMC government of having “failed to prevent incidents of rape and sexual abuse of women during its tenure” but assured his party’s support for the bill.
The disgruntled BJP leader later called the bill an “eyewash” after the government rejected most of the amendments moved by Adhikari, including the proposals to penalise police personnel concerned in case of failure to act on the complaints and providing security to witnesses.
Reacting to the bill, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose Tweeted on X
And the Bengal Legislative Assembly passes the “Aparajita Woman & Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2024.” #BengalShowsTheWay .
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) September 3, 2024
On anti-rape bill passed in West Bengal Assembly, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh quoted by ANI said , “History has been created in West Bengal legislative assembly. For the first time a bill has been passed by Mamata Banerjee led government to provide stringent punishment to those involved in incidents of rape and murder. The Governor of West Bengal should provide assent to the bill…”
