On Tuesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee introduced the ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024’ in the state assembly, labeling it as ‘model and historic.’ This new legislation aims to enhance protections for women and children by updating and adding provisions related to rape and sexual offenses.
Mamata Praises Bill, Urges Governor
The ‘Aparajita’ bill, which Banerjee praised as a crucial step in fighting sexual violence, seeks to address and rectify shortcomings in existing laws. The Chief Minister emphasized that rape is a grave affront to humanity and that robust social reforms are necessary to prevent such crimes. She urged the Opposition to encourage Governor CV Ananda Bose to sign the bill into law, stating that the government must implement it thereafter.
#WATCH | Kolkata: At the West Bengal Assembly, CM Mamata Banerjee says, “…I had written two letters to the Prime Minister, but I did not get any reply from him, rather I got a reply from the Minister of Women and Child Development, but I also replied to his reply and informed… pic.twitter.com/XKmSOWDj3B
— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2024
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Mamata Demands Resignations
In her speech, Banerjee criticized the central government, demanding the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and chief ministers of states with high rape and sexual abuse rates. She accused them of failing to enforce effective legislation to protect women. Banerjee highlighted the bill’s aim to close gaps left by central laws, noting high crime rates in states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat while asserting that women in Bengal are finding justice in the courts.
The West Bengal Assembly later passed the bill unanimously, with opposition leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, supporting it, though his proposed amendments were not incorporated. The bill stipulates severe penalties, including capital punishment for those convicted of rape resulting in the victim’s death or a permanent vegetative state.
