NEW DELHI: NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said that the state of Maharashtra should also advocate for an anti-rape bill similar to the one passed by West Bengal assembly, which seeks capital punishment for rape convicts, adding that the party will “highlight this point in the poll manifesto as well.”
“Maharashtra should consider replicating the bill passed by the West Bengal assembly.My party supports such a bill…There will be no legislature session in Maharashtra now since assembly polls will be held soon. We will highlight this point in our election campaign and mention it in the poll manifesto as well,” Pawar said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the West Bengal assembly unanimously approved the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill, 2024, also known as the state anti-rape bill.
The bill proposes capital punishment for rape convicts if their actions lead to the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state. The passage of the bill came nearly a month after the rape and murder of a post graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The former state home minister and NCP (SP) leader, Anil Deshmukh, has been demanding for the implementation of the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020, which was passed by the legislature during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s tenure and is currently awaiting the President’s approval. The Shakti Bill includes strict punishments for crimes committed against women and children.
Regarding the recent collapse of the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg district, Pawar pointed out that the sculptor responsible for creating the structure had limited experience in the field. “He had never executed such a big work before and yet it was given to him.
The NCP (SP) chief told about the contrasting example of the Shivaji Maharaj statue installed by the state’s first chief minister, Yashwantrao Chavan, at the Gateway of India in Mumbai sixty years ago, which still stands strong, adding “that the reasons given for the incident were not convincing.”
Pawar further said that “Prima-facie, those who were given the work to build the statue had no experience. It was not appropriate to give such a big work to them and now after that incident, people having faith in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are restless.”
Pawar also criticised Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for his alleged statement that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did not loot Surat, and said that no one should misrepresent history to the public. He said that the main issue was whether the Maratha warrior king looted Surat or not.
“Despite the fact, Fadnavis made a different statement, in which he indicated that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did not commit the act of looting (Surat). The deputy CM also alleged that the Congress spread wrong history about Shivaji Maharaj,” the veteran politician said.
“It is the right of historians to present facts after years of research. Yesterday, (noted historian-author) Jaisinghrao Pawar said that not just once, but Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj carried out a mission to Surat twice. The intention to ride to Surat was different and it was explained by Jaisinghrao Pawar. Another historian Indrajit Sawant also echoed his opinion,” Pawar said.
“It means no one should present a wrong history before the people and the young generation,”Pawar further added.
(With inputs from agencies)
“Maharashtra should consider replicating the bill passed by the West Bengal assembly.My party supports such a bill…There will be no legislature session in Maharashtra now since assembly polls will be held soon. We will highlight this point in our election campaign and mention it in the poll manifesto as well,” Pawar said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the West Bengal assembly unanimously approved the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill, 2024, also known as the state anti-rape bill.
The bill proposes capital punishment for rape convicts if their actions lead to the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state. The passage of the bill came nearly a month after the rape and murder of a post graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The former state home minister and NCP (SP) leader, Anil Deshmukh, has been demanding for the implementation of the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020, which was passed by the legislature during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s tenure and is currently awaiting the President’s approval. The Shakti Bill includes strict punishments for crimes committed against women and children.
Regarding the recent collapse of the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg district, Pawar pointed out that the sculptor responsible for creating the structure had limited experience in the field. “He had never executed such a big work before and yet it was given to him.
The NCP (SP) chief told about the contrasting example of the Shivaji Maharaj statue installed by the state’s first chief minister, Yashwantrao Chavan, at the Gateway of India in Mumbai sixty years ago, which still stands strong, adding “that the reasons given for the incident were not convincing.”
Pawar further said that “Prima-facie, those who were given the work to build the statue had no experience. It was not appropriate to give such a big work to them and now after that incident, people having faith in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are restless.”
Pawar also criticised Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for his alleged statement that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did not loot Surat, and said that no one should misrepresent history to the public. He said that the main issue was whether the Maratha warrior king looted Surat or not.
“Despite the fact, Fadnavis made a different statement, in which he indicated that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did not commit the act of looting (Surat). The deputy CM also alleged that the Congress spread wrong history about Shivaji Maharaj,” the veteran politician said.
“It is the right of historians to present facts after years of research. Yesterday, (noted historian-author) Jaisinghrao Pawar said that not just once, but Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj carried out a mission to Surat twice. The intention to ride to Surat was different and it was explained by Jaisinghrao Pawar. Another historian Indrajit Sawant also echoed his opinion,” Pawar said.
“It means no one should present a wrong history before the people and the young generation,”Pawar further added.
(With inputs from agencies)