Abhishek Banerjee
Amid the ongoing ‘Bangla Bandh’ by the BJP in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee issued an ultimatum to the central government to implement a law addressing crimes against women. Speaking at a rally on the 27th foundation day of the West Bengal Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, the TMC’s student wing, Banerjee stated that if the government does not pass such legislation within the next three to four months, the TMC will organize a significant protest in Delhi.
“If a time-bound law addressing crimes against women is not enacted by the Centre in the next three to four months, the Trinamool Congress will lead a major movement in Delhi,” Abhishek Banerjee declared. He also criticized the BJP’s call for a 12-hour ‘Bangla Bandh,’ saying, “We oppose the BJP’s 12-hour ‘Bangla Bandh.’”
This statement follows Banerjee’s recent demand for a stringent anti-rape law that mandates trials and convictions within 50 days of the crime. He highlighted the urgency of this law by posting a chart on social media that depicted the number of rapes and atrocities against women in the last 15 days following an incident at RG Kar Hospital.
“This collage starkly illustrates the state of affairs in India over the past 15 days as the nation seeks justice against rape. The solution is clear: a stringent anti-rape law with trials and convictions within 50 days, followed by immediate and severe punishment. Shockingly, the conviction rate for rape cases in India is only 26 per cent, meaning 74 offenders go unpunished for every 100 reported cases,” Abhishek Banerjee wrote. He emphasized that anything short of such a law is “futile” and “merely symbolic.”
The ‘Bangla Bandh’ was called by the BJP on Wednesday to protest what it described as “brutal” police action against “peaceful” protesters during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally. The bandh, which began at 6 am, disrupted daily life across various parts of the state.
BJP workers staged demonstrations in support of the bandh at several railway stations, including Bongaon in North 24 Parganas, Gocharan in South 24 Parganas, and Murshidabad. Clashes occurred between BJP workers and police in multiple locations. BJP leaders, including former Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly and MLA Agnimitra Paul, were detained for blocking roads and railway tracks in the city.
The bandh was called a day after the ‘Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj’ and other groups held a ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally in Kolkata to protest the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Despite being labeled “illegal” and “unauthorized” by state police due to concerns about potential violence and public disorder, the rally went ahead. During the protest, clashes broke out between police and demonstrators, leading to police using lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
