Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, is reacting against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) criticism about the rape and murder of a doctor in a hospital in Kolkata by casting doubt on the CBI’s handling of the case. Speaking at a function celebrating the founding day of the student branch of the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee questioned where justice was and condemned the investigation’s speed.
The Chief Minister disclosed that she had visited with the victim’s parents within two days following the discovery of the doctor’s body in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital seminar hall. “I had requested five days to address the matter, but they handed it over to the CBI,” said Mamata Banerjee, expressing her dissatisfaction over the case’s transfer to the CBI. They are looking for time to pass, not justice. 16 days have passed; where is justice?
The Chief Minister further stated that the state government will convene an Assembly session and present a bill calling for the death penalty for rapists.
“Next week, we will call an Assembly session and pass a Bill within 10 days to ensure capital punishment for rapists. We will send this Bill to the Governor. If he doesn’t pass, we will sit outside Raj Bhavan. This Bill must be passed and he cannot evade accountability this time,” she said.
The Trinamool Congress leader stepped up her criticism of the BJP following yesterday’s march to the state secretariat, Nabanna, which resulted in chaos around Kolkata. Over 200 people were detained as police used tear gas, water cannons and batons to disperse those who were protesting In reaction, the BJP has declared a 12-hour bandh to condemn the police action.