Mamata demands the resignation of the prime minister and home minister over ‘less effective anti-rape laws’
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday called for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states due to what she describes as ineffective legislation to protect women from sexual violence.
The demand was made during a special session of the West Bengal Assembly, where Banerjee introduced the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024.
The bill got the approval of the House later.
The chief minister said the Bill aims at quick investigation, fast justice delivery and enhanced punishment of the guilty, a PTI report said.
“Rape is a curse against humanity and social reforms are required to prevent such crimes,” she said.
“We will form a special Aparajita Task Force from among police to ensure time-bound completion of probes,” the chief minister said at the time of tabling the bill.
Hailing it as a “historic and model for other states” Banerjee said that through this proposed legislation her government has tried to plug the loopholes that exist in the central legislations in terms of speedy and effective disposal of justice to victims and their kin.
When Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs raised slogans demanding Banerjee’s resignation, she retorted: “What if I raise slogans against the prime minister and the home minister for the same reasons you are raising slogans against me.”
States like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have abnormally high crime rates against women whereas in West Bengal, tortured women are getting justice in courts, she claimed, according to the report.
Banerjee claimed that West Bengal was not consulted before passing the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the Indian Penal Code.
“We wanted discussions on it after the formation of the new government at the Centre,” she said.
Banerjee told the Opposition to ask the governor to sign the Bill without delay, while asserting that it would be the state government’s responsibility for its effective enactment.
Banerjee also criticised the central government’s approach, claiming that many states, particularly those governed by the BJP, have failed to implement laws that adequately safeguard women. She highlighted the high rates of crimes against women in states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat while emphasising that West Bengal provides timely justice to victims.
“We want justice from the CBI and death by hanging of the guilty,” Banerjee said over the rape and murder of the RG Kar Medical College doctor while expressing her sorrow over the gruesome crime.
