New Delhi: The West Bengal Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new Bill that seeks to prevent rape and enforce harsher penalties for perpetrators.
The cabinet gave its nod to the proposal, paving the way for the Bill to be tabled in the state assembly in the coming week.
The proposed legislation is set to be introduced in the assembly next week, with senior cabinet member and state agriculture minister Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay requesting Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay to convene a special two-day assembly session starting from September 2.
“The proposed Bill will be tabled in the Assembly on September 3,” Chattopadhyay said.
The decision to introduce this bill comes in the wake of the recent rape and murder of a woman medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which has sparked widespread outrage and demands for stricter measures to combat sexual violence.
The CBI has taken over the investigation, and a Kolkata Police civic volunteer has been taken into custody in connection with the crime.
Both the ruling TMC and opposition BJP have announced plans for street protests demanding justice for the victim over the horrific incident that took place on August 9.
During the foundation day event of TMC’s student wing, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee declared that student unions will hold protests at every college gate on August 30, calling for capital punishment for the perpetrators.
