West Bengal Assembly Passes Anti-Rape Bill 'Aparajita' Unanimously

Kolkata: The West Bengal Assembly has passed the anti-rape bill 'Aparajita' unanimously, with provisions for capital punishment for rapists. The bill, which was tabled by State Law Minister Malay Ghatak, was passed with some amendments after a two-hour discussion.

The bill aims to provide stringent punishment to rapists, including capital punishment and life imprisonment. The bill also provides for the establishment of special courts in each district to try rape cases, with a provision for the appointment of a special public prosecutor.

During the discussion, Leader of the Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari demanded three amendments, including provisions for punishing police officers who delay or fail to register FIRs, and doctors who delay or botch medical examinations and post-mortems. However, the government rejected these amendments, leading to a ruckus by BJP MLAs.

The bill also provides for the establishment of a special task force in each district to investigate rape cases. The task force will be headed by a senior police officer and will include a woman officer.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while supporting the bill, criticized the BJP-led government at the Centre, saying that states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat had a higher rate of crimes against women. She also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, citing their failure to curb crimes against women.

The bill has been hailed as a significant step towards providing justice to victims of rape and sexual harassment. The government has promised to set up special courts and task forces to investigate and try rape cases expeditiously.

The bill was passed amidst high drama, with BJP MLAs creating a ruckus and shouting slogans demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister. The Opposition also demanded that the government should not only pass the bill but also ensure its implementation.

Key Provisions of the Bill

* Capital punishment for rapists
* Life imprisonment with a fine for rapists
* Establishment of special courts in each district to try rape cases
* Appointment of a special public prosecutor
* Establishment of a special task force in each district to investigate rape cases
* Punishment for police officers who delay or fail to register FIRs
* Punishment for doctors who delay or botch medical examinations and post-mortems