Kolkata- In the wake of the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical Centre and Hospital on August 9, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed the Aparajita anti-rape bill. The bill has been designed to safeguard the dignity of women in the state and ensure their rights are protected.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been the main advocate for the bill, speaking in support of it in the assembly. She has expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of consultation with other states before the recent passage of the Code of Justice Bill at the national level. The bill now aims to fill the gaps left by the national law and ensure that the rights and safety of women in Bengal are prioritized.

The Chief Minister has also taken the opportunity to raise concerns about the treatment of women in other parts of the country. She has referred to the incidents in the Bilkis Bano case and the lack of women police stations during the rule of the Communist Party of India. She has assured that Kolkata remains one of the safer cities for women and vowed to continue her fight for their rights.

The West Bengal Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the 'Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) 2024,' in response to the tragic incident involving the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, urged the state government to ensure the immediate implementation of the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) 2024 to protect women and children in West Bengal. The bill's passage coincided with the 43rd anniversary of the United Nations' Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.