Kolkata: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju attacked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the newly passed Anti-Rape ‘Aparajita’ Bill, on Wednesday. He accused her of politicizing the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor by rolling out the ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill 2024.
The Union Minister shared a copy of a letter dated, November 11, 2018, on micro-blogging platform X and pointed out that the parliament passed a stringent law to address crimes like rape in 2018. He further alleged that despite several communications in the following years until 2021, the TMC government did not agree to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, of 2018.
I feel sad that Chief Minister of West Bengal ignored her most sacred duty of providing quick Justice for women & children. This letter of 2021 clearly shows it.
In 2018, a stringent law was passed by- Parliament to deal with heinous crimes like Rape.. State Govts must act ! pic.twitter.com/fTE5vXkVFD— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 4, 2024
BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari Reacts To Rijiju’s Letter
Kiren Rijiju expressed disappointment that the TMC Supremo neglected her ‘sacred duty’ of providing quick justice for women and children. He stressed on the seriousness of the matter and claimed that despite extensive media coverage, the West Bengal government failed to respond adequately. Rijiju’s stance was backed by BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari, who criticized the TMC government’s sluggish response to establishing Fast Track Special Courts and POCSO Courts. He wrote, “CM Mamata Banerjee, it’s time to walk the talk, everybody knows that your actions and words are just eyewash.”
TMC And BJP Unites
A rare moment of concensus was witnessed on Tuesday when TMC and BJP joined hands for the unanimous passage of the Anti-Rape ‘Aparajita’ Bill. Suvendu Adhikari who slammed Mamata Banerjee’s inaction in Rijiju’s post, voiced his support for the bill yesterday on the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. He urged Banerjee to ensure that the bill becomes a law. However, the assembly turned chaotic when both BJP and TMC raised slogans demanding resignation of the respective party leaders.
