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Centre hits back at Mamata Banerjee after Trinamool, BJP join hands for Bengal’s ‘Aparajita’ anti-rape Bill

The political debate surrounding the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital continued as Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded to the Aparajita anti-rape bill, which was unanimously passed by the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

On social media platform X, Rijiju shared a letter dated November 11, 2018, accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of politicizing the tragedy by introducing the ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024.’ Rijiju claimed that Banerjee had “failed to act” to prevent the crime initially.

Rijiju highlighted that in 2018, Parliament enacted a “stringent law” aimed at addressing severe crimes like rape, which included the creation of fast-track special courts (FTSC) to expedite trials and resolve pending rape and POCSO Act cases.

He alleged that despite several communications in 2019, 2020, and 2021, the Trinamool Congress government did not agree to this centrally sponsored scheme under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.

In his letter, Rijiju had urged the Mamata Banerjee government to intervene in establishing FTSCs for the swift trial and resolution of pending rape and POCSO Act cases in West Bengal. The letter noted that 123 FTSCs, including 20 ePOCSO courts, had been allocated for the state, but the necessary consent from the state government had not been received.

Rijiju expressed his disappointment that the West Bengal Chief Minister had neglected her “most sacred duty” of ensuring prompt justice for women and children.

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“This is an extremely serious matter. Please don’t make it political issue. Very strong laws are necessary but strong actions are more important. When the letter was written, media had carried this news extensively, but West Bengal Govt failed to act!” he said in a post on social media.

The Centre’s response follows the West Bengal Assembly’s unanimous passage of the state anti-rape Bill the previous day. This Bill seeks capital punishment for rape convicts if their actions result in the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state, and life imprisonment without parole for other perpetrators.

Key features of the proposed ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024’ include completing investigations into rape cases within 21 days of the initial report, a reduction from the previous two-month deadline, and the creation of a special task force led by women officers to handle investigations.

The Bill received support from opposition BJP MLAs, despite Suvendu Adhikari accusing Mamata Banerjee of introducing the Bill to “divert attention” from public outrage and protests over the crime.

During the heated debate in the assembly, BJP legislators chanted slogans demanding the chief minister’s resignation over the crime, while Mamata Banerjee called for Suvendu Adhikari’s resignation for disrupting the Bill’s passage.

The proposed law, which still requires approval from the Bengal Governor and President, represents a significant advancement in the state’s legal framework against sexual crimes. During the debate, Mamata Banerjee described the legislation as “historic” and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the chief ministers of states with ineffective women’s safety laws.

Additionally, the Bill proposes amendments to the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and the POCSO Act 2012 to enhance punishments and establish a framework for the expedited investigation and trial of violent acts against women and children in West Bengal.

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Aparajita’ anti-rape Bill

Under the Bill, any imposed fines must be “fair and reasonable” to cover the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim or their next of kin, if applicable, as determined by the Special Court. These fines should be paid within the timeframe set by the court.

The state government called a special two-day session of the House to introduce and pass the Bill, following widespread protests after the alleged rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

For more updates, click here.

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