Odisha Opposition Demands Stringent Women Safety Law Similar to West Bengal

Opposition parties BJD and Congress have demanded a stringent women's safety law in Odisha, urging the government to take inspiration from West Bengal's recent legislation. They criticized the BJP-led state government for its perceived insensitivity towards rising cases of rape and murder, calling for swift legal reforms and better victim support.

The opposition parties BJD and Congress have called for a stringent women's safety law in Odisha, modeled after the recent legislative moves in neighboring West Bengal.

The demand came after the West Bengal Assembly passed the 'Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024' on September 3, aiming for severe punishments for rape convicts. It mandates capital punishment in cases leading to the victim's death or vegetative state and life sentences without parole for other offenders.

Odisha's opposition claimed that crime rates against women have surged under the BJP's rule and emphasized the need for immediate legal reforms. They also accused the government of lacking empathy, as highlighted by the failure to meet the families of recent rape-murder victims.

(With inputs from agencies.)