‘Awaiting reply’: Didi again writes to PM Modi on tougher anti-rape law

New Delhi, August 30

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday wrote a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concern over the lack of response to her earlier appeal for stronger legislation on crimes against women in the wake of a trainee woman doctor’s rape and murder in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital.

The Chief Minister, who is trying to don the hat of an anti-rape crusader as a political strategy to counter the charge against her government of trying to shield the culprits, accused the Centre of not taking her concerns seriously.

“No reply was received from your end on such a sensitive issue,” she wrote, referring to the letter written by her to the PM last week. Acknowledging the reply she received from the Minister of Women and Child Development, the TMC said it “barely attends the gravity of the issue raised in my letter”.

She added: “I am of the thought that the seriousness of the subject and its relevance to the society have not been adequately appreciated while sending out this generic reply.” In a letter to Mamata, Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi criticised the state government for failing to implement measures for the safety of women and children. In response, Banerjee said: “As many as 10 exclusive POCSO courts have been approved by the state government. In addition to this, 88 FTSCs (fast-track special courts) and 62 POCSO courts are functioning on complete state funding. Disposal of cases is completely in the hands of the courts,” she wrote.

She also raised concerns about the functionality of fast-track courts. According to Central guidelines, only retired judicial officers can be appointed as presiding officers in FTSCs. However, the High Court has observed that due to the severity of cases, permanent judicial officers need to be posted, a matter that requires examination by the Centre, Banerjee wrote.