'Capital Punishment for Rapists': West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Vows for New Law, Warns of Protest If Governor Delays Approval (Watch Video)

After a violent protest and 'Bengal Bandh' called by BJP over the rape-murder case of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that Trinamool Congress (TMC) government will pass a Bill in assembly within 10 days to ensure capital punishment for rapists. "For this, there is only one punishment- to hang till death," Mamata Banerjee on rape case.

Mamata said that the bill on anti-rape laws will be passed during the special assembly session within 10 days and will send this Bill to the Governor for approval. She said if Governor CV Ananda Bose does not approve the bill then the party workers sit outside Raj Bhavan in Delhi to stage a protest. "This Bill must be passed and he cannot evade accountability this time," she said.

Kolkata | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "Next week, we will call an Assembly session and pass a Bill within 10 days to ensure capital punishment for rapists. We will send this Bill to the Governor. If he doesn't pass, we will sit outside Raj Bhavan. This Bill must be… pic.twitter.com/GQFPvTStZX

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2024

Mamata Banerjee's statement came against the recent case of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s hospital on August 9. Referring to the 12-hour Bengal Bandh call given by the BJP on Wednesday, the CM said the saffron party was resorting to vandalism and that its workers were attacking the police.

Also Read | ‘Sorry’: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Expresses Grief Over Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case.

“"We have dedicated this day to the RG Kar doctor. We want justice but BJP today called for a bandh. They don't want justice, they are only trying to defame Bengal,” she said. “"We don't support this bandh....BJP never demanded the resignations of the CMs of UP, MP and even Manipur...We saw pictures from yesterday (Nabanna Abhiyan rally), I salute the police for handling the situation well," she added. 

Banerjee also urged the agitating junior doctors of Bengal, who have struck work for 20 days now to urgently consider returning to duty.

Will Call for a Special Session Next Week To Bring In a Bill Demanding Capital Punishment for Rapists: Mamata Banerjee

With a reforms-first approach, GoWB will call for a special session next week to bring in a Bill demanding capital punishment for rapists!

Will @BJP4India dare to ask PM @narendramodi to push for this Bill like all those who are demanding justice? Or will they choose to… pic.twitter.com/3A3fh7nqZG

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) August 28, 2024

“I have remained sympathetic towards the cause of the doctors from the very beginning since they were seeking justice for their colleague. We did not take any action against them although so many days have passed since the incident. We understand your pain. But please come back to work now since patients are suffering,” she appealed.

Coming down heavily on the BJP for calling a 12-hour bandh, Banerjee said, “They called a bandh since they wanted political dividends over a dead body. The BJP is trying to exploit the emotions of ordinary people in the wake of the death of a young woman. They want to malign Bengal and plotted a conspiracy to derail the probe into her death so that the victim and her family do not get justice.”