West Bengal Legislative Assembly is likely to have its special session on Monday to bring a Bill demanding capital punishment for rapists in the state. The development comes amid outrage over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Bill is likely to be tabled the same day when the session would start.
"With a reforms-first approach, GoWB will call for a special session next week to bring in a Bill demanding capital punishment for rapists," the party said on Wednesday.
On Thursday West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded to the accusations raised by BJP against her over her address to the party workers during foundation day event of Trinamool Congress's student wing, Chhatra Parishad.
During her address, she urged the medical students to return to their work and referred to the Supreme Court's ruling that the state government could take action in the case.
"We did not act against you after you protested because I understand you are upset. But please join work gradually," she had said in her speech.
"Supreme Court has said that the state government can now take action. I don't want to take action because I want them to study properly. If get an FIR registered, their future will be destroyed, they won't get a chance anywhere, and they won't get passports and visas. If I take legal action, their lives will be destroyed. I don't want that, our government has a human outlook, we want to create more doctors with this human outlook," she added.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sudhanshu Trivedi told media on Wednesday evening that the Bengal CM had threatened the students with wordplay.
"After misleading the probe, destroying evidence and shielding accused, a new strategy to threaten doctors has emerged. Heed the Chief Minister's words. She says she doesn't want to register FIRs (against doctors) so that careers are not destroyed. Mamata Banerjee has threatened doctors with word play," he said.
Hitting out at the saffron party, Mamata said: "I detect a malicious disinformation campaign in some print, electronic and digital media which has been unleashed with reference to a speech that I made in our students' programme yesterday."
"Let me most emphatically clarify that I have not uttered a single word against the (medical etc.) students or their movements. I totally support their movement. Their movement is genuine. I never threatened them, as some people are accusing me of doing. This allegation is completely false," she said in a post on X.
She also said that she spoke against the Bharatiya Janata Party in her speech because BJP, along with Centre is trying to create anarchy in the state.
"With support from Centre, they (BJP) are trying to create lawlessness and I have raised my voice against them," said said.