The West Bengal Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed the ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) 2024,’. The bill was introduced in response to the recent tragic incident involving the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical Centre and Hospital on August 9.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking in support of the bill, emphasized its importance in safeguarding the dignity of women in the state. She voiced her concerns over the lack of consultation with states before the recent passage of the Code of Justice Bill at the national level, which she argued should have been more deliberative and inclusive.
“I had written to the Prime Minister twice but received no reply, except from the Minister of Women and Child Development,” Banerjee said, expressing her dissatisfaction with the central government’s approach. She highlighted that the new state legislation is intended to fill the gaps left by the national law and ensure that the rights and safety of women in Bengal are prioritized.
The Chief Minister also criticized the treatment of women in other parts of the country, pointing to incidents like the garlanding of convicted rapists in the Bilkis Bano case and the absence of women police stations during the rule of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). She assured that Kolkata remains one of the safer cities for women and vowed to continue her fight for women’s rights.
Banerjee said that the bill’s passage coincided with the 43rd anniversary of the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. She expressed her condolences to the family of the trainee doctor and reiterated her call for stringent punishment for the perpetrators, including the death penalty.
The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, also voiced his support for the bill, urging the state government to ensure its immediate implementation. He stressed that the passage of the bill should lead to tangible results in protecting women and children in West Bengal.
(ani)