West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enact stringent central legislation with severe penalties for perpetrators of rape. The appeal, made in a letter delivered on Thursday, comes amid widespread protests over the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata earlier this month.
Alapan Bandopadhyay, Chief Advisor to Banerjee, presented the letter at a press conference. In the letter, Banerjee addressed the alarming frequency of rape cases across India, citing data that reveals nearly 90 rape incidents occurring daily, with many victims being murdered.
Banerjee expressed deep concern over the grim statistics, stating, “It is horrifying to see this trend. It shakes the confidence and conscience of society and the nation. It is our bounden duty to put an end to it so that women feel safe and secure. Such a serious and sensitive issue needs to be addressed comprehensively through stringent central legislation that prescribes exemplary punishment for those involved in these dastardly crimes.”
Additionally, Banerjee proposed the establishment of fast-track special courts to expedite the judicial process for rape cases. She suggested that trials should be concluded within 15 days to ensure swift justice for victims.
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) also welcomed the Supreme Court’s remark advising against the politicization of the case. The apex court had instructed political parties not to exploit the tragic incident for political gains and emphasized that “law will take its course.” The court described the Kolkata Police’s delay in registering the unnatural death of the doctor as “extremely disturbing” and urged protesting medics to return to their duties.
This call for reform and the Supreme Court’s guidance highlight the urgent need for a more robust legal framework to tackle sexual violence and ensure the safety and justice for women across the country.