“Bill on death penalty for rape victims was introduced in a hurry,” says opposition leader in West Bengal Parliament, Suvendu Adhikari

Calcutta: The Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill was tabled in a hurry, claimed Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday. He said this while taking part in a debate on the bill in Parliament after it was tabled in the afternoon.

The bill provides for the death penalty for those convicted in cases of rape and murder, as well as in cases of rape where the victim is left in a vegetative state.

Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Parliament, Suvendu Adhikari, on the “Aparajita Act for Women and Children”

“We support the bill. But why did you bring the bill in such a hurry? We could have asked for the bill to be sent to the select committee. But we want punishment for the culprits. We will listen to what the chief minister has to say on the bill. We will not seek a vote on the bill. But the state government must ensure that the bill is enacted as soon as possible,” Adhikari said.

The bill was introduced by the state's Law Minister Malaya Ghatak, after which members of the Finance and Opposition Parliament began expressing their views on the matter.

The Aparajita Bill was proposed in the wake of the nationwide protests against the rape and murder of a doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. During his speech, the LoP also referred to similar cases and presented media reports on these issues. However, House Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay said that these documents could not be accepted without verifying their authenticity.

LoP in West Bengal Assembly: Suvendu Adhikari's reply to House Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay

In his reply, Adhikari said that he had no problem getting his documents cross-checked as he was well prepared in this matter. The last speaker in the debate on the bill is Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Legal experts believe that despite the smooth voting in Parliament, there is still a long way to go before the bill becomes effective as it requires the President's assent as it proposes to amend certain provisions of the central laws on the issue.