Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder: Mamata Banerjee Praises ‘Aparajita’ Anti-Rape Bill, Calls for Resignations of PM Modi and Amit Shah

Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder: Mamata Banerjee Praises ‘Aparajita’ Anti-Rape Bill, Calls for Resignations of PM Modi and Amit Shah

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while speaking in the state assembly on Tuesday, termed the states’ new anti-rape law, ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024’, as “model and historic”.

The historic bill has been drafted with revised and new provisions relating to rape and other sexual offences with the view to afford more protection to women and children.

Banerjee described rape as a serious social problem and demanded serious social reforms to tackle this crime. She called upon the Opposition to move a resolution seeking the Governor, CV Ananda Bose, to grant assent to the bill, saying, “It is our duty to enact it after that.”

Banerjee further demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and all other chief ministers in whose states recent cases of rape and sexual abuse have been reported for failing to introduce stringent legislations to safeguard women.

“We have sought to address the lacunae in central legislation through this bill,” Banerjee said. She pointed to abysmal rates of crimes against women in northern states such as Uttar Pradesh and western states such as Gujarat, but said in Bengal, women are getting justice in courts.

The anti-rape bill was passed unanimously by the West Bengal Assembly with full support from the Opposition. However, some amendments thus moved by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari were not adopted.

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Moving it, Ms. Banerjee said it provides for capital punishment for rape convicts in cases where the victim dies or is left in a permanent vegetative state.