The West Bengal Assembly has unanimously passed the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2024, which mandates the death penalty for rape convicts if their actions result in the victim's death or a vegetative state, and life imprisonment without parole for other offenders. In an unprecedented move, the bill was sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, alongside the governor, amid ongoing tensions between the Bengal government and Raj Bhavan over the approval of other pending bills. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale endorsed the bill, highlighting the need for stringent laws against sexual crimes. However, BJP Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of politicizing the issue and failing to implement previous central laws aimed at expediting justice for victims. The passage of the bill comes in the wake of public outrage over a recent doctor’s rape and murder, prompting calls for swift action from the CBI and greater accountability from the state government. Mamata Banerjee has emphasized the importance of ensuring justice and has urged the CBI for timely resolution of the case, while also challenging the BJP regarding its record on handling such cases in other states.