The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the anti-rape ‘Aparajita’ bill brought by the Mamata Banerjee government. With this, Bengal became the first state to bring amendments to central laws dealing with rape, gang rape and sexual crimes against children.Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described it as ‘historic’ and ‘ideal’ and said that the bill is a tribute to the 31-year-old trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at the government RG Kar Medical Center and Hospital last month.
The bill, ‘Aparajita Women and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Law and Amendment) 2024’, provides for the death penalty for persons convicted of rape and sexual offences if their acts result in the death or unconsciousness of the victim. Earlier, speaking on the merits of the bill, Mamata Banerjee asked Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari to urge state Governor CV Anand Bose to give his assent to the bill.
The West Bengal Chief Minister said, “Through this bill, we have tried to remove the loopholes present in the central law. Rape is a curse against humanity, social reform is needed to stop such crimes.”
She said, “The opposition should ask the governor to sign the bill, after that it is our responsibility to implement it. We want justice from the CBI and want capital punishment for the culprits.” Mamata Banerjee said, “The crime rate against women is abnormally high in states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat. While in West Bengal, harassed women are getting justice in court. West Bengal was not consulted before passing the BNS,
We wanted it to be discussed after the formation of the new government.” Meanwhile, the BJP welcomed the bill, but said the Indian Justice Code (BNS) has all the stringent provisions to deal with crime against women and children. Party leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly Suvendu Adhikari also moved a resolution seeking seven amendments to the bill.
The official said, “We want immediate implementation of this (anti-rape) law, it is your (state government) responsibility. We want results, it is the government’s responsibility. We don’t want any division, we fully support you, we will listen to the chief minister’s statement comfortably, she can say whatever she wants but you have to guarantee that this bill will be implemented immediately…”