NEW DELHI: Under fire over Kolkata doctor rape-murder case, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit back at the BJP by citing cases in Unnao and Hathras.
"No one talks about what happened in Unnao, the victim of Hathras did not get justice," she said in state assembly, referring to two high-profile cases of rape and murder that sparked national outrage.
Banerjee also expressed her disapproval of the central government's decision to pass the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) without consulting her state and said that the new law would address the 'loopholes' in the existing legislation.
Her comments came as the TMC government tabled the new anti-rape bill in West Bengal, which aims to impose stricter punishments on those found guilty of such heinous crimes.
Banerjee said, "I express my condolences to the girl who was raped, murdered, and to her family." She recounted the timeline of the tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, saying, "When the RG Kar incident took place on the night of August 9, I was in Jhargram. On August 10, the body was found, and on August 12, I met the family of the deceased. We want justice from the CBI. The CBI should hang the criminal."
She highlighted that West Bengal ranks third in the country for the number of fast-track courts and recalled the Kamdhuni case, where her government had sought capital punishment, only for the Supreme Court to reverse the high court's ruling.
“To implement the bill, ask the governor to sign it. Our state is in the 3rd position in the matter of fast-track court. In the Kamdhuni case, we had demanded capital punishment, the Supreme Court went against the High Court and the matter is pending,” Banerjee added.
Banerjee drew comparisons between the situation in West Bengal and that of BJP-ruled states, where she claimed justice has been elusive.
The anti-rape bill, formally named the 'Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024,' was introduced by West Bengal law minister Moloy Ghatak and was passed during a special session of the Assembly.
The bill proposes capital punishment for those convicted of rape resulting in the victim's death or leaving her in a vegetative state, and mandates life imprisonment without parole for those convicted of rape and gang rape.
The legislation also aims to introduce stricter penalties for repeat offenders, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, along with substantial fines. Furthermore, it proposes penalties for the unauthorized printing or publishing of court-related matters, with sentences ranging from three to five years of imprisonment and fines.
The two-day special session was convened in response to the brutal rape and murder of a woman medic at RG Kar Medical College, a crime that has reignited calls for stricter laws and swifter justice in the state.
"No one talks about what happened in Unnao, the victim of Hathras did not get justice," she said in state assembly, referring to two high-profile cases of rape and murder that sparked national outrage.
Banerjee also expressed her disapproval of the central government's decision to pass the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) without consulting her state and said that the new law would address the 'loopholes' in the existing legislation.
Her comments came as the TMC government tabled the new anti-rape bill in West Bengal, which aims to impose stricter punishments on those found guilty of such heinous crimes.
Banerjee said, "I express my condolences to the girl who was raped, murdered, and to her family." She recounted the timeline of the tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, saying, "When the RG Kar incident took place on the night of August 9, I was in Jhargram. On August 10, the body was found, and on August 12, I met the family of the deceased. We want justice from the CBI. The CBI should hang the criminal."
She highlighted that West Bengal ranks third in the country for the number of fast-track courts and recalled the Kamdhuni case, where her government had sought capital punishment, only for the Supreme Court to reverse the high court's ruling.
“To implement the bill, ask the governor to sign it. Our state is in the 3rd position in the matter of fast-track court. In the Kamdhuni case, we had demanded capital punishment, the Supreme Court went against the High Court and the matter is pending,” Banerjee added.
Banerjee drew comparisons between the situation in West Bengal and that of BJP-ruled states, where she claimed justice has been elusive.
The anti-rape bill, formally named the 'Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024,' was introduced by West Bengal law minister Moloy Ghatak and was passed during a special session of the Assembly.
The bill proposes capital punishment for those convicted of rape resulting in the victim's death or leaving her in a vegetative state, and mandates life imprisonment without parole for those convicted of rape and gang rape.
The legislation also aims to introduce stricter penalties for repeat offenders, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, along with substantial fines. Furthermore, it proposes penalties for the unauthorized printing or publishing of court-related matters, with sentences ranging from three to five years of imprisonment and fines.
The two-day special session was convened in response to the brutal rape and murder of a woman medic at RG Kar Medical College, a crime that has reignited calls for stricter laws and swifter justice in the state.
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