Centre to seek Bengal rape facts
With Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee gunning for the Centre on virtually all crucial issues, ranging from FDI to the National Counter Terrorism Centre, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) intends to strike back by seeking a report from the West Bengal government on a February 5 rape case in Kolkata that has put the state government in an embarrassing position.
This is the first time since Ms Banerjee came to power in the state that the Centre has subtly pointed at the law and order situation under her government. The Left has been slamming her government over the recent incident. Ms Banerjee had reportedly said the rape of an Anglo-Indian woman was a “fabricated story” intended to malign her government and had blamed some TV channels for airing reports on the incident.
While some officials tried to downplay the proposed move to seek a report from the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government as a “routine affair”, sources disclosed that the Centre intends to build up pressure on the Trinamul.
Government sources said the MHA is planning to seek a report from the state home secretary on the facts of the rape case and whether any relief has been provided to the victim. “Keeping a close watch on all incidents of crime against women in the country, the MHA time and again seeks reports from state governments on such incidents,” a government official said.
The NCW also took serious note. “NCW is concerned about the reported statements of the West Bengal government saying the claim of the woman was fabricated. The reaction should have been given after a thorough investigation of the matter ... such a premature reaction can influence investigations,” NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma had said Monday. The incident involved five men allegedly picking up the woman from outside a nightclub and allegedly raping her in a car at gunpoint.
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