Supriya Sule Leads Protest for Shakti Bill in Maharashtra
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule, along with party workers, staged a protest against the Maharashtra government for delaying the Shakti Bill, which prescribes the death penalty for rapists. The protest took place near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue by the state secretariat.
Protest Details
Sule was seen with many women workers holding placards and raising slogans against the government. She criticized both the previous Uddhav Thackeray’s Maha Vikas Aghadi government and the current NDA government for not taking action on the bill.
Statements from Leaders
Supriya Sule said, “When Uddhav Thackeray’s Maha Vikas Aghadi government was in power, Anil Deshmukh brought the Shakti Bill and sent it to Delhi, but then there was the Modi government, they did nothing, today there is NDA government but unfortunately, they also did nothing… We will hold a meeting with the leaders of INDIA alliance and will meet the Home Minister of this country and request him to bring this bill…”
Former State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh added, “We passed the bill 3 years ago under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray’s Maha Vikas Aghadi government and sent the bill to Delhi. For the last 3 years, the bill has been pending in Delhi. I have written to Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis as he is in power and so we can implement it in Maharashtra…If CM Eknath Shinde doesn’t look into this matter we will protest at the Governor’s house in the same manner…”
Context and Related Events
The protest follows a nationwide outcry for stricter laws after a trainee doctor was raped and murdered in Kolkata. In response, West Bengal introduced a similar anti-rape bill named ‘Aparajita’.
West Bengal’s Aparajita Bill
West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee introduced the ‘Aparajita’ bill, which ensures the harshest punishment for harassment and rape of women. The bill includes provisions for the death penalty if the victim dies or suffers severe brain damage. An Aparajita Task Force will ensure punishment within 21 days of the preliminary report. Banerjee also sanctioned Rs 120 crores to improve safety for nurses and female doctors.
Doubts Revealed
Supriya Sule -: Supriya Sule is a politician from India. She is a Member of Parliament (MP) and belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Shakti Bill -: The Shakti Bill is a proposed law in Maharashtra, India, that aims to give very strict punishments, including the death penalty, to people who commit rape.
Maharashtra -: Maharashtra is a state in the western part of India. Its capital city is Mumbai.
Nationalist Congress Party -: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is a political party in India. It was founded by Sharad Pawar and focuses on social justice and equality.
MP -: MP stands for Member of Parliament. An MP is someone who has been elected to represent the people in the Parliament, which is the law-making body of the country.
Mumbai -: Mumbai is the capital city of Maharashtra and one of the largest cities in India. It is known for being the financial and entertainment hub of the country.
Anil Deshmukh -: Anil Deshmukh is a politician in India who has served as the Home Minister of Maharashtra. The Home Minister is responsible for the police and public safety in the state.
Kolkata -: Kolkata is a major city in the eastern part of India and the capital of the state of West Bengal. It is known for its cultural heritage and history.
West Bengal -: West Bengal is a state in the eastern part of India. Its capital city is Kolkata.
Aparajita -: Aparajita is the name of a proposed anti-rape bill in West Bengal, similar to the Shakti Bill in Maharashtra. It aims to provide strict punishments for rapists.
