Mamata Banerjee Introduces Anti-Rape Bill in State Assembly

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 4, 2024, Kolkata: The West Bengal Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed a bill introducing the death penalty as a punishment for rape. The Aparajita Women and Child Bill 2024 (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment Bill 2024), initiated by the government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was passed on Tuesday. With this move, West Bengal becomes the first state in India to attempt an amendment to the central law against rape, gang rape, and sexual abuse of children.

The recent push to pass this bill comes in the wake of the horrific rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. 

The bill will now be sent to Governor C.V. Ananda Bose for his assent. If approved, it will then be forwarded to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. 

Once the President's approval is obtained, the bill will become law.During a special session of the state assembly today, State Law Minister Malay Ghatak introduced the bill, proposing the death penalty as a punishment for rape. 

This was followed by a discussion in the assembly. According to a report in the Times of India, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requested the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, to urge the Governor to approve the bill. 

Mamata Banerjee stated, "We have tried to close the loopholes in the central law through this bill. Rape is a curse against humanity. Social reforms are needed to prevent such crimes."

The state BJP has already welcomed the bill. Speaking in the Assembly today, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari mentioned that he has proposed seven amendments. He expressed his desire for the bill to be passed and to become law. After the discussion, Suvendu Adhikari raised slogans demanding justice in the RG Kar case.