West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, accusing them of failing to implement effective anti-rape laws. This demand came during the introduction of the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill 2024 in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on September 3, 2024.
Banerjee described the Bill as a “historic and model” legislation aimed at enhancing the protection of women and children in the state. The Bill proposes stringent measures, including the death penalty for rape and murder cases, and seeks to amend sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, to expedite trials and ensure harsher punishments for offenders. The Bill also establishes a special Aparajita Task Force to oversee the timely investigation and prosecution of such crimes.
The Chief Minister criticized the central government for not consulting West Bengal before passing the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023. She also highlighted the high crime rates against women in states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, contrasting them with the situation in West Bengal, where she claimed victims are receiving justice.
The introduction of the Bill follows public outrage over the recent rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata, an incident that Banerjee cited as a failure of existing laws and a catalyst for the new legislation. The Bill was passed unanimously in the Assembly, despite protests and chaotic scenes from the opposition(
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