Oppn parties push for special session to enact new rape law

The opposition parties on Saturday renewed their demand for a special session of Parliament to enact a strong anti-rape law to ensures death sentence for those guilty of committing sexual assault against women. HT reports.

The opposition parties on Saturday renewed their demand for a special session of Parliament to enact a strong anti-rape law to ensures death sentence for those guilty of committing sexual assault against women.

Traditional rivals, the Left parties and Trinamool Congress, made a similar demand of convening a special session, while the BJP reiterated its demand of a death penalty for rapists.

The government earlier rejected the demand for a special session, saying it is already working to address the problem.

Expressing shock at the death of the 23 year-old girl, West Bengal chief minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee favoured a special session to make a strong anti-rape law.

“There is need for more stringent laws against those who commit such crimes... We want the Centre to pass strong laws so that such incidents never occur again,” Banerjee said.

CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta described the gang rape victim as a “martyr” and said, “The government must call a special parliament session to pass stringent anti-rape laws. An ordinance won’t serve that purpose.”

Leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, reiterated her demand for death sentence for all those guilty in rape and murder cases.