Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended her support for West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment Bill 2024 and said that the bill is being brought to secure the dignity of women and if Bengal is abused, it will have a ripple effect.
Letters to the PM
CM Mamata Banerjee said, "I had written two letters to the Prime Minister, but I did not get any reply from him, rather I got a reply from the Minister of Women and Child Development, but I also replied to her reply and informed the Prime Minister. When the Code of Justice Bill was passed in a hurry before the elections, I had said that it should not be passed in a hurry, the states were not consulted in this. I had opposed it many times as no advice was taken from the states in this regard, it should have been passed after discussing with the Rajya Sabha, the opposition, and all the parties, but this was not done.
That is why today we are bringing this (bill) to secure protection for women. If Bengal is ill-treated, then it will have spillover effect."
She said that the way she was being humiliated, if TMC spoke about the PM and Union Health Minister, then would it be appropriate.
Fight to protect of girls
She said, "I would like to thank all my brothers and sisters and say that every day I will fight to protect the rights of girls...It is a matter of repeating history and fighting to protect girls' rights...43 years ago on this day in 1981, the United Nations formed a committee for the 'Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women' to protect the rights of women. I would like to extend greetings to all protesting for justice to the victim doctor. To the family, I would like to express my grief. We are calling for stringent punishment for the rapists. I expect everyone in the civilised society will support the bill unanimously. The society where women are not safe can never progress."
Said about doctor rape
She further said that the junior doctor had passed away on August 9 and the Police had arrested the key accused in 12 hours.
Fast track courts
The West Bengal Chief Minister further said that in West Bengal there are 88 fast track courts and 52 designated courts for women. Over 3 lakh cases have been registered in these courts and out of that 3 lakh 11 thousand 489 cases have been disposed. 7,000 cases are pending in fast track courts. (with Agency inputs)
