West Bengal passes anti-rape Bill

Facing all-round condemnation for the "inept" handling of the investigation into the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College, the Mamata Banerjee Government today put up a face-saver by passing an anti-rape amendment Bill titled 'Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024', seeking to amend the punishment for sexual crimes such as rape and to impose time-bound limits for the conclusion of investigation and trial in rape cases.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

Calling it "historic" and "model", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Bill was a tribute to the 31-yearold trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at the Government-run RG Kar Medical Centre and Hospital last month.

While speaking on the merits of the Bill, Mamata Banerjee asked Leader of Opposition (LoP) of the BJP, Suvendu Adhikari, to urge State Governor CV Ananda Bose to grant his assent to the Bill. “Through this Bill, we have tried to plug the loopholes that exist in the Central legislation. Rape is a curse against humanity, social reforms are required to stop such crimes,” the West Bengal Chief Minister said. Though the Bengal Assembly passed the State’s new anti-rape legislation unanimously, but it was not without drama or acrimony. Several amendments proposed by Suvendu Adhikari were defeated by voice vote.

Suvendu Adhikari raised the slogan ‘dofa ek, dabi ek, mukyomontrir podotyag’ (one point, one demand, Chief Minister’s resignation) on the floor of the House. The slogan has been a war cry in many protests that have erupted against the rape and murder.

With this, West Bengal became the first State to bring in amendments to Central laws dealing with offences of rape, gang-rape, and sexual crimes against children. The Bill will now be sent to West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and then to President Droupadi Murmu for their assent.