Mamata Banerjee says will amend law next week to ensure death penalty for rapists

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief Mamata Banerjee today dedicated the party’s foundation day of its student wing to the Kolkata rape and murder victim.

The Trinamool Chhatra Parisha (TMCP) is the student wing of TMC. Addressing the gathering, she stated that the state government will pass anti-rape laws, enabling capital punishment for the accused.

Taking a dig at the BJP over “Bengal Bandh” called in protest over the Kolkata rape and murder case, the Chief Minister stated that the saffron party “doesn’t want justice, they are only trying to defame Bengal.”

The Chief Minister called for a dharna on Saturday to demand the death penalty for the accused in the Kolkata rape and murder case.

“On August 31, I urge all blocs to protest demanding capital punishment. And on September 1, I urge women to protest, demanding capital punishment and a change in the law,” she said.

The Chief Minister’s remark came against the backdrop of the gruesome rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

Mamata Banerjee stated that the state government would call for an Assembly session and introduce a Bill demanding the death penalty for rapists.

“We will pass a bill on anti-rape laws, that would secure capital punishment for the rapist within seven days of the crime,” the Trinamool chief said.

Citing the 12-hour “Bengal Bandh” call given by the BJP, Mamata Banerjee stated that the saffron party has resorted to vandalism and that its workers were attacking the police. “The police were beaten, they had burnt the vehicles,” the Chief Minister stated.

In response to the BJP’s demand for her resignation, the Trinamool chief retorted, “Have the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Manipur resigned over crimes against women in their states?”

While countering the BJP’s attack, the Chief Minister questioned the progress in the CBI’s probe into the Kolkata rape and murder case, and asked, “where is justice?”

“I asked for five days’ time, but the case was sent to the CBI. They don’t want justice. They want a delay. It has been 16 days. Where is justice?” she asked.