“It is a good and welcome step,” says Congress leader Jitu Patwari on the introduction of an anti-rape law in West Bengal.

New Delhi [India]September 4 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jitu Patwari on Wednesday praised the West Bengal government for introducing an anti-rape law and said it was a good and welcome step.

Speaking to ANI, Patwari said, “Rape cases are not a contentious issue, it is neither the ruling party nor the opposition party's issue, it is a problem for the entire society and nation. Women in our country are being abused and the President of India has expressed his concern about it. This means that we have a new India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” “When we talk about the law, then the government and the administration should make efforts to stop such incidents. I think there should be no politics in it, just a collective and public effort and everyone should work towards it. It (the anti-rape law) is a good and welcome step,” he added.

Meanwhile, responding to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's questions on the timing of the introduction of a new anti-rape law in West Bengal, the Congress leader said Chouhan and lies are synonymous.

“Shivraj Singh Chauhan and lies are synonymous. The law came into force in 2017, but even after that, 17 rapes still occur every day in Madhya Pradesh. Data shows that most rapes in Madhya Pradesh occur among tribals and Dalits,” Patwari said.

Chouhan recently questioned the timing of the introduction of a new anti-rape law in West Bengal, suggesting that it may be an attempt to divert public attention from the RG Kar Medical College incident.

Chouhan, who pointed out that Madhya Pradesh had already passed similar laws in 2017, accused the Mamata Banerjee government of insensitivity in a speech to the media on Tuesday.

In December 2017, Madhya Pradesh became the first state in India to pass a law requiring those convicted of raping girls aged 12 or younger to face the death penalty by hanging.

“Mamata Banerjee has become insensitive. Madhya Pradesh was the first state in the country to implement the law in 2017 and impose death penalty for rape. So far, 42 people have been sentenced to death. This bill has been brought to divert attention from the heinous crime at RG Kar Medical College,” Chouhan noted.

“Why did the Mamata government not introduce the bill earlier? Those responsible for the RG Kar incident should be sentenced to death,” he added.

The West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the “Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) 2024” on Tuesday.

This development follows the tragic rape and murder of a junior doctor last month at RG Kar Medical Centre and Hospital on August 9. (ANI)