West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee jointly advocated for strict and time-bound anti-rape legislation while addressing the foundation day rally of the party’s students wing - Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) - in Kolkata on Wednesday.
It was the first time the top two leaders of West Bengal’s ruling party appeared on the stage since the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
After facing intense pressure from all corners due to the heinous incident and the state government’s apparent mishandling, the TMC supremo and her nephew took direct potshots at the BJP.
While the Diamond Harbour MP put pressure on the central government to bring a law in the Parliament that would expedite the trial and conviction of individuals found guilty of rape, the chief minister said she would enact such legislation through the state assembly.
Abhishek said, “Shouldn’t there be a strict ant-rape law in the country? Isn’t it necessary to come up with a law which mandates that the trial be concluded within one or two months and those found guilty be convicted?”
Addressing the opposition’s demands for Mamata Banerjee’s resignation, Abhishek said, “Those calling for the Chief Minister’s resignation should urge PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda to enact an anti-rape law in the country if have the power.” He added that if such legislation is ever implemented, BJP leaders will be jailed first. Banerjee asserted that the TMC plans to stage a large-scale protest in New Delhi if the Centre fails to enact this law in the next three to four months.
“If overnight demonetization can happen and lockdown can be implemented, why can’t there be an anti-rape law?” He further added that he will introduce a private member’s bill if the Centre doesn’t take any steps.
Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, dedicated the foundation day of her party’s student wing to all victims and survivors of rape across India. She specifically mentioned the victim of RG Kar Medical College Hospital and also acknowledged recent incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra’s Badalpur, Assam’s Dhing, Rajasthan’s Jodhpur, and Manipur.
The chief minister advocated for a stringent anti-rape law. She announced her plans to convene a special assembly session, during which she intends to pass a bill that would impose capital punishment on convicted rapists.
“We will then send the bill to the Governor. I know he will not do anything. If he doesn’t then women will sit in front of Raj Bhavan. He will have to sign the bill. He can’t escape responsibility by referring the bill to the President,” the CM said.
In a veiled attack on the BJP over the release of Bilkis Bano’s rapists, who were later sent back to jail by the Supreme Court of India, Banerjee said, “Many criminals are released nowadays. I receive many cases where individuals argue that 10-12 years have elapsed and they should be set free. But why should oppressors and rapists also be released? What is this rule?”
Meanwhile, the Trinamool supremo once again raised the issue of misinformation and the circulation of AI-generated content on social media in the context of the RG Kar incident. She asked her party leaders and workers to effectively counter the fake news campaign run by the BJP.
Mamata Banerjee also criticized the decision of handing over the investigation of the rape and murder of the trainee doctor to CBI. “I visited the victim’s family and asked them for 5 days’ time. The next day the investigation was given to the CBI. It’s been 16 days since the CBI took charge. Where is justice? We have to continue the movement for justice.”