Mamata Banerjee Demands Resignation of PM Modi and Amit Shah over ‘Ineffective Anti-Rape Laws
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was in the headlines on September 3, when she strongly demanded the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and chief ministers of states that have failed to implement effective legislations related to women’s safety. It came during her address in the state assembly of West Bengal, where she also moved the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill-West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment Bill 2024. This salvo-laden address underlined the commitment of the Chief Minister, amidst growing concerns over crimes against women in India.
Aparajita Woman and Child Bill: The New Legal Framework
The Aparajita Woman and Child Bill presented by Banerjee is landmark legislation in the fight against crimes against women and children in West Bengal. Major reforms it has proposed include a separate Aparajita Task Force under the police department, which will ensure timely investigation and the delivery of justice when it is not possible under the existing framework.
The lacunae left by existing central legislation, which has failed to protect women and children, are aimed to be filled by this Bill,” Ms. Banerjee said while proposing the Bill. “Rape is a deep blemish on humankind, and social reforms are imperative to avoid such horrific incidents,” she further elaborated, saying this is part of the legal mechanism required for the protection of vulnerable groups.
Model for Other States: Banerjee’s Vision
Banerjee termed the Aparajita Bill “historic model for other states,” thus hinting that West Bengal is setting an example in trying to curb gender-based violence. She mentioned that while there has been a lack of central laws, West Bengal has taken a way towards justice proactively for the victims and their families. As Banerjee says, “Inasmuch as the Act intends to deter prospective offenders by fear of swift and severe punishment, the intent of the legislation is not only punitive but also preventive.”.
It contains provisions for more severe sentencing, even capital punishment, for the guilty of crimes displaying extreme brutality. The stand corresponds with Banerjee’s broad approach to justice, which she says must be timely and uncompromising if it is to be effective at all.
Criticism against Central Government: Verbal Spat
Banerjee also went all guns blazing against the central government on the safety of women. She reacted immediately to the slogans raised by the BJP MLAs asking her to quit, and turned the tables on them with pointed questions over Prime Minister Modi’s and Home Minister Shah’s efficiency on precisely those grounds. “What if I raise slogans against the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for the same reasons you are against me?
She thus asked, standing her ground by pointing at the bigger perspective in which her actions had to be seen.
Apart from that, she also mentioned states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, whose governments were formed by the BJP, for their high crime records against women. She compared those to West Bengal, which is doing much to secure justice for the victims. No doubt, this comparison will impress her point that effective governance and legislation go a long way in combating gender-based violence.
A Call for Cooperative Federalism
The BNS Controversy Frustation of Banerjee against the central government was further reflected in her comments on the lack of consultation on the passage of the Bharatiya Nari Suraksha Bill before it was passed. She complained that despite her government’s efforts towards dialogue with the newly formed central administration, the feelings expressed by West Bengal remained dumb.
By this example, Banerjee was showing her larger apprehension with the trend of centralization, and the requirement for greater cooperation in federal legislation.
She is of the view that the BNS Bill, even though well-intentioned, does not meet the needs and challenges of different states. Aparajita Bill by Banerjee, on the other hand, reflects the particular set of circumstances that prevail in West Bengal and the considered belief of the chief minister that the state governments must have a greater say in framing laws affecting their subjects.
Unanimous Passage, Future Implementation
Later in the day, despite the disruptions and debates in the state assembly, the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill was passed unanimously. Banerjee said she was pleased with this and appealed to the Opposition to join her in pressing the governor for speedy assent to the Bill.
She thereafter assured the House that her Government is fully committed to effectively implementing the Bill, adding that every effort shall be made to ensure strict enforcement of the provisions under it.
Then, she went on and impassionately asked for stern punishment, including hanging till death, against rapists of serious crimes, like the recent rape and murder of a medical student from RG Kar Medical College. The above stance simply underlines her commitment to justice for victims and reflects the larger public demand for stringent laws to instill some fear in the minds of people who commit such crimes.
Conclusion
A Leader’s Call to Action The demand for the resignation of PM Modi and Amit Shah on the pretext of lenient anti-rape laws was quite a strong statement of Mamata Banerjee in the ongoing debate related to women’s safety in India. To cover West Bengal in the first line of attack against gender-based violence, Banerjee has proposed the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill.
Her critiques against the central government bring out the tensions between state and central governments-especially on matters of governance and justice. While the Bill gets underway, all eyes will be on West Bengal on how effectively it can be implemented, and if it really proves to be a model for other states. The call to action by Banerjee is as clear as it is loud: complacency is at an end, and the safety and dignity of women and children need to be foregrounded through strong, effective legislation.
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