Bengal govt to convene special session to pass anti-rape bill

Kolkata: A two-day special session of the West Bengal assembly will be held from Monday to pass an anti-rape legislation in the wake of the rape and murder of a PG medical student in RG Kar hospital on August 9.

The special session will start on Monday and the proposed bill will be tabled on Tuesday in all likelihood, sources said.

Ahead of the special session, the state cabinet already passed the proposal and has set up a committee comprising state law minister Moloy Ghatak, finance minister-MoS (independent charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya, and state chief secretary, finance secretary and law secretary, sources said. The committee will frame the new legislation with emphasis on time-bound completion of trial and death penalty for the culprit.


Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari said, "Why is the CM calling special sessions illegally. There is a deliberate attempt to divert attention."

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress, in a statement, said, "Ahead of the two-day special session to be convened by the government of West Bengal on September 2 to ensure justice for rape victims, the Trinamool on Friday amplified chairperson Mamata Banerjee's clarion call to ensure that all convicted rapists receive capital punishment. "

"Trinamool leaders of all rank and file have shared the message on their social media platforms in a bid to intensify the movement for speedy justice for rape victims. Interestingly, this comes two days after Mamata Banerjee asked all party leaders to be active on social media and combat fake news," the party said in its statement.

Speaking at the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad's foundation day rally on Wednesday, chief minister MamataBanerjee had said she would sit on dharna outside Raj Bhavan here if the Governor delays in giving his nod to the amended bill or forwards it to the President for ratification.

The CM said women will be at the forefront of the proposed dharna accompanied by "their brothers".