West Bengal Assembly Passes Historic Anti-Rape Bill

The West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill, 2024, imposing capital punishment for rape convicts in cases leading to death or vegetative state of the victim, and life imprisonment without parole for other perpetrators. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demands PM Modi's resignation over ineffective women protection laws.

The West Bengal Assembly has passed a landmark anti-rape Bill, the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill, 2024, which seeks the death penalty for rape convicts if the victim dies or is left in a vegetative state. The Bill also stipulates life sentences without parole for other offenders.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during the assembly discussions, called for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other leaders, criticizing their failure to implement effective laws to protect women. The Bill amends several laws, including the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023 and the POCSO Act 2012, to ensure swift and stringent punishment.

The Bill was introduced amid protests following the alleged rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. Despite opposition, it received support from BJP MLAs, who later called the Bill an 'eyewash.' TMC's Abhishek Banerjee stressed the urgency of such laws given the high frequency of rapes in the country.