Bengal Assembly passes 'Aparajita' anti-rape Bill

The West Bengal Assembly passed the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, with a voice vote on Tuesday. State Law Minister Moloy Ghatak introduced the bill during a special session, which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hailed as “historic.” The bill, introduced in response to the rape and murder of a woman doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College in August, seeks to impose harsher penalties for sexual crimes.

During the discussion, Mamata Banerjee urged BJP legislators to convince the Governor to sign the bill into law. She reiterated her commitment to the victim's family, emphasizing the need for justice and calling on the CBI to ensure the culprits face the death penalty.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari expressed full support for the bill, urging its immediate implementation. However, BJP legislators raised slogans during the session and demanded Mamata Banerjee's resignation over the incident.

The Aparajita Bill proposes capital punishment for rapists whose actions result in the victim's death or leave her in a vegetative state. It also introduces life imprisonment without parole for rape and gang rape convictions, aiming to strengthen protections for women and children by updating existing laws.

The special session was convened on September 2, 2024, following widespread outrage over the R.G. Kar incident.