Kolkata:
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee – whose authorities is below hearth over the rape and homicide of a physician at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital – launched a fierce defence of the state’s police power Tuesday, pointing to equally horrific cases of assault on girls in different states.
She referred to the rape of a 20-year-old Dalit girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras in 2020 and the rape and barbaric slaughter of a school scholar in Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district in 2013, in addition to the rape of a kid final week at a government-run hospital in Rajasthan’s Jaipur.
“Within the Kamduni case (the North 24 Parganas rape) we demanded capital punishment… however the matter is pending within the Supreme Courtroom (the place an attraction has been filed after the Calcutta Excessive Courtroom acquitted one accused and commuted the demise sentence of two others). Nobody talks about what occurred in Unnao (and) the sufferer of Hathras didn’t get justice…” she stated.
There are “abnormally excessive crime charges in opposition to girls in states like UP and Gujarat… and there’s no justice there however in Bengal girls will get justice in courts,” she thundered within the Meeting, as she additionally demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Residence Minister Amit Shah, in addition to chief ministers of all states “unable to implement efficient legislations to safeguard girls”.
The point out of Mr Modi and Mr Shah triggered loud protests from BJP lawmakers, to which Ms Banerjee requested, “What if I elevate slogans in opposition to PM and Residence Minister as you elevate in opposition to me…”
Ms Banerjee’s sharp feedback got here as her Trinamool tabled a brand new regulation, which can make rape a criminal offense commensurate with homicide for which punishment shall be demise or life in jail. She stated the “historic” new regulation – referred to as the Aparajita regulation – will guarantee fast-tracked investigations and stricter punishments.
The title of the brand new regulation has been seen by many as an homage to the younger girl who was raped and murdered in North 24 Parganas; based on reviews her title was Aparajita.
The Aparajita regulation will “plug loopholes” in legal guidelines handed by the centre, the Chief Minister stated, taking a swipe at its much-vaunted set of three new legal legal guidelines. Rape is a curse in opposition to humanity (and) social reforms are required to cease such crimes…” she stated, urging Governor CV Ananda Bose, who has additionally taken pot pictures on the Trinamool on the RG Kar Hospital case, to signal the invoice immediately.
And, in a pointed comment on the BJP – which has been relentless in concentrating on her however has supplied assist, of a form, on this laws – she referred to as on the opposition to additionally urge the Governor.
“We wish justice from the CBI… CBI ought to grasp the legal,” Ms Banerjee stated.
The invoice was handed shortly after the Chief Minister’s speech, however not earlier than the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, her former aide and now the Chief of the Opposition, criticised it as being tabled in haste.
He stated the BJP would assist the invoice, but in addition demand accountability from Ms Banerjee.
“We are going to assist… however why did you convey this in haste? We may have despatched it to a committee (for additional research). We wish punishment for the culprits. We won’t search division… however the state authorities should make sure the invoice is made efficient on the earliest,” Mr Adhikari stated.
The CBI is investigating this case pursuant to a route from the Calcutta Excessive Courtroom, which ruffled political feathers by overruling the Chief Minister and summoning the central company.
This was a day after Ms Banerjee gave Kolkata Police per week’s time.
Since then Ms Banerjee has been demanding outcomes from the CBI, which made its first arrest late final evening; Dr Sandip Ghosh, the previous Principal of the RG Kar Hospital, was arrested after two weeks of questioning. Dr Ghosh, although, was arrested over allegations of monetary irregularities.
The CBI additionally arrested three others, together with a safety guard. However the one arrest, to this point, related to the rape and homicide has been by Kolkata Police, who arrested a civilian volunteer, Sanjoy Roy.
