West Bengal Governor Criticizes Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Over Aparajita Bill

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 6: West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose has criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not sending a technical report along with the Aparajita Bill passed by the State Assembly. According to the rules, the government must send a technical report before a decision is made on approving the bill.

The Raj Bhavan has accused the State Secretariat, Nabanna, of misleading the public to cover up the government’s mistakes. A statement from Raj Bhavan said, “This is not the first time that the government has withheld technical reports and blames Raj Bhavan for withholding the bills.”

The Governor has taken quick action on the Aparajita Bill and criticized the Chief Minister. The statement added, “The governor has pulled up the Chief Minister for failing to send the government’s technical report on the bill, which is mandatory under the rules. He has admonished the government and told them to do their homework in important matters like this.”

Governor Bose also pointed out that the Bengal Bill seems to be copied from similar bills passed by Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Arunachal Pradesh. He claimed that the Chief Minister knows that some of these bills are still waiting for the President of India’s approval. The statement said, “Mamata Banerjee is threatening Dharna only to fool the people of Bengal. The Governor took strong objections to such tricks at such a critical time in Bengal’s history.”

Governor Bose expressed his displeasure at such political tricks on a sensitive issue and ignoring the feelings of the victim’s parents. He advised the Chief Minister that ‘honesty is the best policy’. An official statement quoted Governor Bose saying, “This appears to be a government of half-wits run on half-truths.”

Earlier, on Thursday, Governor Bose heavily criticized the state government over the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. He said that the law exists but is not being properly implemented. Governor Bose also alleged that part of the police is criminalized and politicized. He said, “Parents (of the victim) have told me certain things, which is very, very heartbreaking. They also gave it to me in writing, which I have taken up with the Home Minister. Within two days, we started seeing action. Their feelings we understand. What they want is also justice. The entire Bengal society seeks justice. Justice will be done. Justice should be done. What I see in Bengal today, especially the administration, is going from wrong to wrong. They should realize two wrongs, even if they are mutually contradictory, will not constitute one right.”

On September 3, the West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, following the rape and murder of a doctor at a government hospital in Kolkata on August 9. The Bill introduces the death penalty or life-long imprisonment for rape by amending the relevant sections in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the new penal code.