The Union Women and Child Development Minister, Annapurna Devi, has responded sharply to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s renewed plea for stringent laws and exemplary punishments in cases of rape and murder. The response comes after Banerjee’s second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which she urged for a mandatory provision ensuring time-bound disposal of such cases.
Banerjee’s letters were issued against the backdrop of a nationwide outcry following the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating the case.
The BJP, however, has dismissed Banerjee’s actions as political posturing, with the party’s representatives accusing her of failing to implement existing protective measures in West Bengal.
“It is incumbent on Mamata Banerjee to explain why the West Bengal government hasn’t done anything for implementing the stringent rules and regulations, which exist for protecting women and girls,” said BJP co-incharge for West Bengal Amit Malviya in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Stop writing letters. Answer the questions. You are accountable,” he added.
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In her response, Union Minister Annapurna Devi pointed out discrepancies in the information provided by Mamata Banerjee regarding Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) in West Bengal.
“With regard to the information contained in your letter about the status of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) and exclusive POCSO courts in West Bengal, I may mention that according to information received from the Calcutta High Court, West Bengal has established 88 Fast Track Courts (FTCs), which are not the same as the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) covered under the Central Government Scheme,” said Devi.
She further criticized the state government for its failure to operationalize additional FTSCs despite the pendency of 48,600 rape and POCSO cases in the state. “… the state has not operationalized additional 11 FTSCs which may be exclusive POCSO courts or combined FTSCs dealing with both rape and POCSO cases, as per the state’s requirement. As may be seen, the information contained in your letter in this regard is factually incorrect and appears to be a step in the direction to cover up the delays in operationalizing the FTSCs by the state,” Devi added.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has countered the BJP’s criticism, accusing the party of politicizing the tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College. Meanwhile, the investigation continues, with the CBI arresting the key suspect, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, who was captured on CCTV near the seminar room where the junior doctor’s body was discovered.
The incident has spurred widespread calls from the medical community for urgent reforms to ensure safety and dignity for healthcare professionals in their workplaces. The former principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, is also under investigation for alleged negligence and corruption linked to the case.
