The Mamata Banerjee government, on the back foot amid the furore over the RG Kar Hospital case, is all set to bring in an anti-rape Bill in the Bengal assembly during a special two-day session starting September 1.
On August 28, the foundation day of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, Banerjee had declared that she would bring in a stringent law against rape. She had also said the Governor would have to sign the Bill or the state would see a bigger uprising.
According to the new Bill, to be tabled on Tuesday, the punishment for rape will be life imprisonment. However, in cases where the victim dies due to the assault or is forced to live in a vegetative state, death penalty will be proposed.
Sources said the law will also stress on time-bound investigation, trial, and conviction.
The Bill seeks to go beyond the central law on rapes, with sources telling News18 that Trinamool Congress is trying to make a political point after the chief minister wrote two letters to PM Narendra Modi asking for a more stringent legislation.
Sources said Bengal’s law may not get the Presidential assent as the Constitution says if an existing law contradicts the state law, then the latter will cease to exist. However, for Banerjee, the move is more about optics amid criticism of the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) also calls for death penalty for rapists, though the punishment is contingent on the state or investigative agency being able to convince the court for the same.
Stormy Session on Monday
The Bengal assembly is expected to see fireworks on Monday, with the BJP ready to support the Bill but accusing Banerjee of trying to divert attention from the issue.
BJP’s Sukanta Majumdar, speaking to News18, said: “This is drama. We will support the Bill but then what? Some other states also tried bringing in a law but those are pending with the President. She only wants to divert attention from the issue at hand.”
However, TMC leader Shashi Panja said the chief minister was serious about fighting crime and was trying to make things better. Accusing BJP of doing drama, Panja said people wanted justice from CBI.
Amid criticism, Banerjee’s latest move on the lines of attempts by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh show an attempt to change the narrative against her government. For now, the special assembly session will decide whether her strategy is successful.
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