"Rajnath Singh criticizes Bengal government for lack of sincere efforts in doctor's rape-murder case"
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], August 30: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh criticized the West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, regarding the recent rape-murder case of a doctor in Kolkata. He stated that while the central government has taken a strong stance against crimes targeting women, many states have not shown adequate effort in this regard.
Speaking at an event in Thiruvananthapuram, Singh remarked, "Our government has adopted a stringent approach towards crimes against women, but many states are falling short in their efforts. The tragic incident in Kolkata is deeply distressing and shameful... We have amended the law to include capital punishment for severe crimes such as rape, and this law should be enforced rigorously."
The case of the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 has ignited widespread protests and national unrest.
Singh also highlighted the BJP-led government's success in abolishing the practice of triple talaq, which he described as a significant issue for Muslim women. "The practice of triple talaq, which allowed a marriage to be ended by simply saying 'talaq' three times, was indefensible. Despite its prevalence, our government took decisive action to end this practice, bringing significant relief to Muslim women," he said.
On women's empowerment, Singh discussed advancements in increasing women’s participation in the armed forces. "After Independence, women were largely excluded from contributing actively to the country's development. However, this is changing rapidly. The representation of women in the armed forces is rising," he noted.
He also recalled issuing an advisory when he was Home Affairs Minister to ensure that one-third of vacancies in security forces were filled by women. "Today, women’s participation has increased across all police and paramilitary forces," Singh added.