West Bengal cabinet approves proposal to introduce new Bill aimed at preventing rape

The West Bengal cabinet today (August 28) approved a proposal to introduce a new Bill aimed at preventing rape and ensuring stricter punishments for such crimes. The Bill is scheduled to be presented in the assembly next week.

Senior cabinet member and state Agriculture Minister Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay said he would request Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay to convene a special two-day assembly session from September 2 (Monday).

"The proposed Bill will be tabled in the Assembly on September 3," Chattopadhyay said.

The CBI is currently investigating the case, and a Kolkata Police civic volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime.

Asserting that her government has zero tolerance to incidents of rape, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee



today said an amendment to existing laws will be passed in the state assembly next week to ensure capital punishment to convicted rapists.

Banerjee said that she would sit for dharna outside Raj Bhavan here if the governor delays in giving assent to the amended bill or forwards it to the President for ratification. The chief minister also said that the TMC will launch a movement from Saturday (August 31) at the state's grassroots to create pressure on the Centre to pass legislation for capital punishment of convicted rapists.

"We will pass the amended bill in a special session of the assembly next week. We will then send it to the governor for his nod. We will stage dharna outside Raj Bhavan if he sits on the bill," she thundered from the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad foundation day rally here.