West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's bid to deflect the criticism her government has been getting over the rape and murder of a doctor at the Dr R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, fell flat as the Union government, in response to her letters, said the existing laws were stringent enough.
Responding to Banerjee's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi – the second in a week - Union Minister Annapurna Devi urged the Bengal government to implement the laws in "letter and spirit" instead.
Banerjee, on Friday, in her second letter to Modi, had reiterated her request for a stringent law and exemplary punishment for heinous crimes such as rape and murder. She had also sought a mandatory provision for time-bound disposal of such cases. Her letters came amid nationwide uproar over the rape and murder of the junior doctor, which is now being investigated by the CBI. A large section of the society and the opposition have been accusing the state government of covering up the crime initially and trying to shield the accused. Kolkata Police, too, was criticised by the Supreme Court for their handling of the probe.
"As regards, stringent legislations and exemplary punishment on heinous crimes like rape/rape and murder, I reiterate my earlier communication conveying that stringent punishments for rape/rape with murder already exist in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)," Devi said in her response to the CM.
The Union Minister for Women and Child Development pointed out to Banerjee that the West Bengal government has not operationalised additional 11 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) to specifically deal with rape and POCSO cases. Devi also emphasised that the state has 88 Fast Track Courts (FTCs), but they are not the same as the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) recommended under the Union Government Scheme. She further noted that the FTCs handle several cases, including civil disputes, and do not exclusively deal with rape and POCSO cases.
Devi also highlighted the backlog of over 81,000 cases in the FTCs as of June 30, 2024, and a backlog of 48,600 rape and POCSO cases.
"As may be seen, the information contained in your letter in this regard is factually incorrect and appears to be a step in the direction to cover up the delays in operationalising the FTSCs by the state," she said in her response to the CM.
She urged Banerjee to expedite the establishment and operationalisation of the FTSCs, and requested the CM to ensure that justice is served swiftly and efficiently for victims.
'Stop writing letters, answer the questions'
Calling Banerjee "a liar", the BJP asked her to explain why she has not done anything to ensure implementation of existing "stringent" laws to protect women in her state.
Mamata Banerjee is a LIAR.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 30, 2024
Smt Annapurna Devi, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, responded to West Bengal Chief Minister on 25th Aug 2024.
In her letter, in point 4, she specifically mentions West Bengal Govt NOT setting up even a single Fast Track Court for… https://t.co/mtNgQNLlnx pic.twitter.com/bu2Tf9Ptm2
BJP co-incharge for West Bengal Amit Malviya, in a post on X, asked her to "stop writing letters and answer the questions".
He also called Banerjee a failed Home and Health minister, and accused her of suppressing evidences of her corruption and incompetence in the rape-and-murder case.
Political game continues
Continuing the political tug-of-war over the rape-murder case, Banerjee is set to lead a TMC rally today, demanding capital punishment for the accused. The ruling TMC will hold protests across the state, demanding the death sentence and a change in laws to ensure stricter punishment.
Meanwhile, the opposition BJP has intensified its protests against the sate government.
CBI has arrested the key suspect Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer. The former principal of the college, Sandip Ghosh, is also under investigation.
