Shivraj Singh on Aparajita Bill: Amid massive protests over the rape-murder case of a 31-year-old junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the West Bengal Assembly today passed the Aparajita Bill on Tuesday (August 3). These amendments make the punishment for rape and child abuse more stringent. Union Agriculture Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Shivraj Singh has questioned Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the matter?
While talking to journalists, he said, “Mamata Didi has no compassion. She has brought this bill to divert attention from the gruesome incident that happened in RG Kar Medical College. The culprits of this incident should be hanged, but will people like Sandeshkhali accused Sheikh Shahjahan also be hanged under this law? Mamata Didi should answer…”
‘When will action be taken on the complaint of the sisters of Sandeshkhali’
Shivraj Singh said, “Madhya Pradesh had made a law regarding this a long time ago. 42 people have been sentenced to death. Didi has brought this law under pressure and to divert attention from the gruesome incident that happened with the daughter in RG Kar College. Why did Didi not show sensitivity earlier, why did she not bring this law earlier. I want to ask only one question that the people who are criminals in the RG Kar incident should definitely be punished but will people like Sheikh Shahjahan also get the death penalty? So many sisters have complained in Sandeshkhali. Didi should answer this too.”
Mamata didi has no compassion. She has brought this bill to divert attention from the gruesome incident that happened in the medical college by doing RG.
The culprits of this incident should definitely be hanged, but will people like Sandeshkhali accused Sheikh Shahjahan also be hanged under this law?
Mamta didi please answer… pic.twitter.com/LFsznkxqlo
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) September 3, 2024
What is the Aparajita law?
The bill seeks to amend several sections of the recently introduced Indian Judicial Code (BNS). Section 64 of the BNS states that a person convicted of rape shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than 10 years and may extend to imprisonment for life.
The Bengal law has been amended to extend the jail term to “the remainder of that person’s natural life plus a fine or death”. It also says that the fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the victim’s medical expenses and rehabilitation costs.
The Aparajita Bill also seeks to amend Section 66 of the BNS, which provides for punishment for a person guilty of rape if the victim dies or is rendered “unconscious”.
While the central law provides for 20 years in prison, life imprisonment and death penalty for such crime, the Bengal bill states that the convict should only get the death penalty. Amending Section 70 of the BNS, which deals with punishment in cases of gang rape, the Bengal law has abolished the option of a 20-year jail term and provides for life imprisonment and death penalty for those convicted of gang rape.
The Bengal law has also tightened the punishment in cases related to making the identity of a victim of sexual violence public. Along with this, the law has also tightened the punishment in cases of child abuse under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. Apart from making the punishment stricter, the Bengal law also includes a provision to set up special courts to hear cases of sexual violence and a task force to investigate them.