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Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday advocated for stronger laws to address crimes against women.
He noted that following the rape and murder of a doctor at a hospital in Kolkata, the Karnataka government established a committee to review the safety of women in hospitals. "Safety and security for women are very important. Laws should also be strengthened. After the West Bengal case, we have constituted a committee to look into the safety of women in hospitals and how we can enhance it. We have to keep women safe. In our society, women are always targeted and exploited by men. To address this, strong laws should be enacted," Rao told reporters here. The rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital sparked protests across the country. On Tuesday, the West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the 'Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) 2024'. The Bill includes provisions for increased punishment for sexual crimes against women. The Bill mandates that investigations into rape cases must be concluded within 24 days of the initial report. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended her support for the West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment Bill 2024 and stated that the bill is being introduced to safeguard the dignity of women, and that if Bengal is mistreated, it will have a ripple effect. CM Mamata Banerjee said, "I had written two letters to the Prime Minister, but I did not receive any reply from him; instead, I received a response from the Minister of Women and Child Development. I also replied to her response and informed the Prime Minister. When the Code of Justice Bill was passed hastily before the elections, I had said that it should not be passed in a hurry; the states were not consulted. I had opposed it many times as no advice was taken from the states in this regard; it should have been passed after discussions with the Rajya Sabha, the opposition, and all the parties, but this was not done. That is why today we are bringing this bill to ensure the protection of women. If Bengal is mistreated, then it will have a spillover effect." (ANI)
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