The West Bengal cabinet on Wednesday, August 28 accepted a proposal to draft a new Bill aimed at preventing rape and ensuring harsher penalties for such crimes. The bill is slated to be presented before the assembly next week. Senior cabinet member and state Agriculture Minister Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay said he would ask Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay to call a special two-day assembly session beginning September 2.
WB Government To Introduce Anti-Rape Bill
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on August 28 stated that her government has zero tolerance for rape events and that an amendment to current legislation will be passed in the state parliament next week to ensure that convicted rapists face execution punishment.
Banerjee has threatened to hold a dharna outside Raj Bhavan if the governor fails to sign the altered bill or send it to the President for confirmation. The chief minister further stated that the TMC will launch a grassroots movement in the state beginning on Saturday, August 31 to put pressure on the Centre to adopt laws authorizing the death penalty for convicted rapists.
The TMC supremo dedicated the foundation day to the memory of the medic who was reportedly raped and murdered at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital earlier this month, sparking a public outcry. Banerjee also dedicated the event to the victims of atrocities and abuse around the country. She also brought up the sexual misconduct claims made by a former Raj Bhavan women employee. She accused CV Ananda Bose of bringing false charges against her administration and party. Banerjee also encouraged Bengal’s agitated junior doctors, who have been on strike for 20 days, to consider returning to work immediately.
On August 9, authorities retrieved the body of the woman’s postgraduate trainee doctor from the lecture hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Junior physicians at state-run hospitals have been on strike since that evening, seeking justice for the victim and strict security measures at hospitals.