West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday reportedly called for the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and the chief ministers of all states – where the incidents of rape and sexual abuse were reported recently – for allegedly failing to implement effective legislations to safeguard women.
Addressing the West Bengal Assembly after introducing the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that the legislation is designed to ensure swift investigations, expedited justice, and harsher penalties for offenders. The bill seeks to enhance protections for women and children by revising existing laws and introducing new provisions related to rape and sexual offences.
Describing rape as a curse on humanity and calling for social reforms to prevent such crimes, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the Opposition to request Governor CV Ananda Bose to sign the Aparajita Bill. “It is our responsibility to enact it once that is done,” Banerjee asserted during the Assembly session.
“Through this bill, we have tried to plug the loopholes that exist in the central legislation,” Mamata Banerjee said.
When the BJP MLAs raised slogans demanding her resignation, the Bengal CM retorted, “What if I raise slogans against the prime minister and the home minister for the same reasons you are raising slogans against me.”
“States such as Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have abnormally high crime rates against women whereas in West Bengal, tortured women are getting justice in courts,” she claimed.
Banerjee alleged that West Bengal was not consulted before passing BNS.
“We wanted discussions on it after the formation of the new government at the Centre,” the Trinamool Congress supremo said.
“We want justice from the CBI and death by hanging of the guilty,” Banerjee said over the rape and murder of the RG Kar medic while expressing her sorrow over the gruesome crime.
The bill was unanimously passed after receiving full support from the Opposition, despite some chaotic scenes on the House floor.
However, the proposed amendments by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari were not accepted. The draft legislation includes provisions for capital punishment for those convicted of rape if their actions result in the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state.
