Kolkata Rape-Murder Case / 'Center has made strict laws, information is wrong', Center's reply to Mamata's letter

BJP and TMC are at loggerheads over the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor in Kolkata. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a second letter to PM Modi demanding stringent central laws and severe punishment. Union Minister Annapurna Devi criticised the state for lack of FTSC and said existing laws were sufficient.

Vikrant Shekhawat : Aug 31, 2024, 09:09 AM
Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: The rape and murder case of a female trainee doctor in Kolkata has given rise to acrimonious politics between the BJP and the TMC. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding further stringent central laws in the case. Mamata stressed the need for timely disposal and strict punishment in rape and murder cases.

In response, Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi termed Mamata's letter as factually incorrect and said that despite 48,600 rape and POCSO cases in the state, additional fast track special courts (FTSC) have not been run. The minister alleged that the state government is deliberately delaying the commissioning of FTSC.

The Union minister clarified that the existing laws are sufficient to deal with violence against women and the state government should follow the central laws. Mamata Banerjee had earlier also written a letter to the Prime Minister demanding speedy disposal of crimes.

48,600 rape cases pending in Bengal

Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi has written a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in response. She said, 'Fast Track Special Court (FTSC) is specially made to deal with cases of rape and POCSO Act. Despite 48,600 rape and POCSO cases pending in West Bengal, the state has not made additional 11 FTSCs operational, which can be special POCSO courts or combined FTSCs dealing with both rape and POCSO cases as per the requirement of the state.'

The information is factually incorrect

Along with this, the Union Minister said that as can be seen, the information given in your letter in this regard is factually incorrect and it seems that this is a step taken by the state to hide the delay in making the Fast Track Special Court (FTSC) operational.

Government made strict laws

Union Minister Annapurna Devi said that the laws made by the Central Government to deal with violence and crime against women are comprehensive and very strict. The Union Minister said, 'If the state government follows the central laws exactly, it will definitely help in strengthening the criminal justice system. Crimes will have to face strict consequences.

Mamta wrote a letter to PM Modi twice

Let us tell you that Mamata Banerjee had recently written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this issue after nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old female trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. She had demanded mandatory provision for timely disposal of rape and murder cases.