Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday pledged to introduce state legislation with stringent, time-bound provisions against sexual crimes, accusing the Narendra Modi government of inertia.

She also mounted a trenchant counteroffensive on the BJP over its activities in the wake of the RG Kar rape and murder of a junior doctor and demanded answers on the CBI’s progress since taking over the investigation.

“I have already written to the Prime Minister. What was the point of bringing the (three) new criminal laws? Had the power been given to the states, we would have ensured punishment within seven days… capital punishment for rapists. That one step will instil fear in the hearts of such criminals,” said the Trinamool Congress chief at a Mayo Road event on Wednesday afternoon to commemorate the foundation day of her party’s student wing.

In her first public appearance alongside Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee since the RG Kar crime, the chief minister dedicated the occasion to the 31-year-old doctor and all other victims of sexual crimes across India.

“We want laws that will protect women and not go easy on culprits, get them bail. (Narendra) Modiji must remember that the nation is ablaze and we are facing these hardships solely because of him, as he has not been taking any action,” Mamata said.

“They unleash the likes of ED… and under the PMLA, arrest anyone and everyone. But there is no (adequately stringent) law for the safety of women. There should be a central law,” she added.

During her speech, Mamata announced the decision to have a special session of the Assembly convened next week for the passing of the new bill.

“We will call an Assembly session and pass a bill in 10 days… to ensure capital punishment for rapists. We will send this bill to the governor. If he doesn’t sanction it, women will sit outside Raj Bhavan. This bill must be passed and accountability cannot be dodged this time,” the chief minister said.

Mamata criticised governor C.V. Ananda Bose over the allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him by a former Raj Bhavan staffer.

Hours later, the Bengal cabinet approved a proposal to introduce a stricter anti-rape law in the state. Sources said Mamata assigned the responsibility to draft the new legislation to a committee comprising law minister Moloy Ghatak, finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, chief secretary B.P. Gopalika, finance secretary Manoj Pant and law secretary Pradip Kumar Panja.

“The special session of the Assembly could start on Monday and the bill could be tabled on Tuesday,” said a source.

After days of speculation over yet another rift between Mamata and Abhishek over Trinamool’s and the government’s actions on the crime, the two largely projected a picture of convergence on Wednesday.

Speaking before Mamata, Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek vowed a private member’s bill in the Lok Sabha for a sterner anti-rape law if the Modi government fails to do so in the next three-four months. He accused the BJP of hesitating to pass such a law because the party is “filled with… rapists”.

In their speeches, both Mamata and Abhishek referred to the RG Kar crime as “most unfortunate”, while accusing the CBI of dragging its feet on the probe. Abhishek defended Mamata against the saffron ecosystem’s demand for her resignation and mocked the BJP over its “hypocritical” silence on chief ministers in NDA-ruled states.

Mamata went on to instruct the student wing of her party to conduct sit-ins on Friday outside every college in the state demanding capital punishment for the RG Kar atrocity. On Saturday, the women’s wing of Trinamool will conduct a similar programme at the block and ward levels.

Mamata accused the BJP and its various sister concerns of being on the hunt for bodies — participants in political programmes being killed in police action — by repeatedly causing chaos in the name of protests for justice.

“They are trying to deviate the movement from the real cause and play dirty politics to defame Bengal. I denounce this behaviour,” she said.

“I have never seen another party that is as shameless, abusive, egotistical, lying and conspiring,” added Mamata. “If they want to call a bandh, they should do so against Narendra Modi who has tormented people using central agencies and has not resigned despite countless such incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, or even Manipur. He has never been there for any victim or their kin.”

She once again underscored the progress made by the Bengal police in four-five days before the probe was handed over to the CBI by Calcutta High Court, and demanded answers from the central agency.

“All I had asked for was time till (August 17) to wrap up the investigation. But the case was handed over to the CBI on (August 13). This means that they do not want justice, they only want to do away with it,” said Mamata.

“It is the 16th day since the CBI got the case. No progress, none at all. Where is the justice?” she asked.

The chief minister — also the home and health minister — reissued her appeal to protesting doctors in the public healthcare system to return to work.

“Junior doctors are marching, and I support their march. They give exemplary service to the people…. The poor need medical treatment and have nowhere else to go… lives are being lost,” Mamata said.

“The Supreme Court has said that the state government can take action, but I don’t want to. If I take legal action, their future could be ruined…. Ours is a humane government,” she added.