Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is embroiled in the Kolkata rape murder case, recently wrote a letter to PM Modi. In which she demanded a strict central law to punish the rapist. On Monday (26 August), the central government has replied to Mamata Banerjee’s letter. Through this statement, the central government has shown the mirror to CM Mamata Banerjee. Along with this, 7 points have also been mentioned, which are exposing the Bengal government.
Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi, while responding to the letter on behalf of the government, said that West Bengal has been allotted 123 fast-track courts for hearing rape and child sexual crime cases, but many of them are still not working. The TMC supremo had said in her letter that according to statistics, 90 rape cases occur daily in the country. In many of these cases, the victims are murdered.
Know in 7 points how the Centre exposed the West Bengal government?
1. Union Minister Annapurna Devi said the state has not taken any steps yet to start the remaining 11 special fast track courts even as 48,600 rape and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) cases are pending in the state.
2. In a letter to CM Mamata Banerjee, Union Minister Annapurna Devi criticised the West Bengal government for “failing” to implement key emergency helplines like the Women Helpline, Emergency Response Support System and ‘Child Helpline’. The Women and Child Development Minister, in a letter dated August 25, emphasised the urgency of implementing stringent legal frameworks and judicial processes to ensure the safety of women and children in West Bengal.
3. Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi has now written a letter to Mamata Banerjee in response to the letter written to the PM. In which she said that talking about fast track courts, the minister said that a centrally sponsored scheme to set up such courts was launched in October 2019. As of 30.06.2024, 752 fast track courts including 409 special POCSO courts are functioning in 30 states/union territories, which have disposed of more than 2,53,000 cases since the inception of the scheme.
4. Under this scheme, the state of West Bengal was allotted a total of 123 fast track courts, including 20 special POCSO courts and 103 joint fast track courts, which deal with both rape and POCSO Act cases. However, none of these courts had become operational by mid-June 2023.
5. The Union Minister said that 17 fast track courts have been allotted to West Bengal, out of which only 6 special POCSO courts have been made operational till 30.06.2024. Whereas, this delay continues despite 48,600 cases of rape and POCSO being pending in West Bengal.
6. The Union Minister said that the existing legal framework to deal with crimes against women is quite stringent. However, you will agree that the effective implementation of these provisions of the law as well as many initiatives of the Central Government for the safety of women fall within the purview of the State Government. In such a situation, it is important that the state machinery is fully sensitized and ready to take full advantage of the legal provisions made by the Central Government to ensure the safety of women and girls in the state of West Bengal.
7. The Minister said, “I have full hope and confidence that the Government of West Bengal will work towards eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls by creating a safe ecosystem and a gender equal society for their development.”
Know what Mamata said in the letter?
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to the Prime Minister in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College case. Narendra Modi He had written a letter to CM demanding to make a law for strict punishment within 15 days for the accused involved in heinous crimes like rape and to provide a safe environment to women. Along with this, CM had written in his letter that rape cases are reported regularly in the whole country. Where in many cases rapes are also done along with murder. About 90 rape cases in the country every day shock the society.
The CM has written that for women to feel safe, there should be stringent central laws providing exemplary punishment against the persons involved in such brutal crimes and the establishment of fast-track courts should also be considered for speedy trial in such cases, so that the hearing can be completed within 15 days.