Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal and a leader often viewed with deep skepticism, has once again displayed her political brazenness. Her government on Monday passed the Aparjita Women and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024—an anti-rape law—while conveniently glossing over her administration’s disgraceful record on women’s safety. The legislation comes in the wake of two horrifying incidents: the gang rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor at RR Kar Medical College and Hospital, and a previous series of gang rapes in Sandeshkhali. Both cases highlight the utter failure of her government to protect women, compounded by a series of botched investigations and cover-ups. The Supreme Court and the West Bengal High Court have repeatedly called out Banerjee’s government for its incompetence and failure to secure justice in these cases. Despite directives from the High Court to hand over the investigation to a central agency, Banerjee, who also serves as the state’s Home and Health Minister, dragged her feet, allowing crucial evidence to be compromised. This glaring negligence is only part of her government’s shameful record; yet, in a bizarre display of political theatre, she now demands the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, along with other BJP-ruled state chief ministers, on issues of law and order.
This demand is nothing short of audacious. Banerjee’s administration has allowed rampant crimes against women, often turning a blind eye when her own party members were implicated. The Sandeshkhali case, where local women were reportedly molested by Trinamool Congress (TMC) goons with the tacit support of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar, is a stark reminder of her selective outrage. Under Banerjee’s leadership, these immigrants have not only been sheltered but also transformed into a solid vote bank by granting them Aadhaar and voter ID cards, making Hindu women and other vulnerable groups easy prey. Her government’s belated move to pass an anti-rape law is a desperate attempt to whitewash her failures and win public sympathy. Banerjee dared to call this Bill “historic and a model for other states,” which is ironic given her administration’s failure to secure a crime scene from further tampering. After the junior doctor’s gang rape, a mob of 7,000, allegedly instigated by local political operatives, stormed the hospital to destroy evidence, and yet, Banerjee’s government did nothing to stop it. Now, with the entire nation watching, including the anguished voices of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who both condemned the West Bengal government’s failure to deliver justice, Banerjee’s maneuver reeks of desperation and deceit.
Banerjee’s newfound declaration that “rape is a curse against humanity” rings hollow. Where was this epiphany when numerous rapes were occurring under her watch? Why did her government repeatedly fail to act, especially in high-profile cases involving women from vulnerable sections? This selective moral high ground is not only hypocritical but dangerous. Banerjee should not feel secure hiding behind a hastily drafted law while her government’s ineptitude and possible complicity in shielding culprits come under the scanner. The ongoing Supreme Court case on the gang rape and murder of the junior doctor could unearth further damning evidence of her government’s culpability. If a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe establishes that her administration was complicit in obstructing justice for Abhaya, the victim, the Center must not hesitate to act. Banerjee’s latest antics—a charade of righteousness wrapped in legislative theatrics—cannot absolve her of accountability. The nation demands justice, and no law or political ploy should be allowed to shield those who fail to protect their citizens. Mamata Banerjee’s call for Modi and Shah’s resignation, therefore, is not just bizarre but deeply hypocritical, given her own government’s scandalous record. It is high time that the court holds her to account, and if proven guilty, she must face the full wrath of the law. There should be no escape for a leader whose government has consistently failed its people, particularly the women she claims to champion.
