Union minister Kiren Rijiju criticised chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday for allegedly failing to set up enough fast track special courts (FTSCs) for rape cases and those under the Pocso Act.

Citing a letter sent by him to the state government in 2021 Rijuju, who was the Union minister of law and justice then, said 123 FTSCs, including 20 Pocso courts, were designated for Bengal, but the state government’s consent was not received.

Sharing the letter on his X handle, the present Union minister for parliamentary affairs expressed disappointment, saying he felt "sad" that Mamata neglected her "most sacred duty" to provide timely justice to women and children.

The Centre’s response comes a day after the Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes capital punishment for rape convicts whose actions result in the victim's death or leave her in a vegetative state.

While speaking in support of the bill on Tuesday, Mamata said there are 88 fast track courts in the state, with 52 of them designated exclusively for women. A total of 3,92,620 cases have been registered in those courts and 3,11,489 of them have been disposed of.

“The Centre stopped sending funds for fast-track courts in 2013,” she said.

The BJP, which had supported the bill on Tuesday, took a swipe at Mamata on Wednesday, saying the legislation was merely an "eyewash".

“This letter of 2021, sent by the then Union Minister of Law & Justice; Shri Kiren Rijiju Ji, highlighted the lackluster attitude of the WB Govt regarding establishing Fast Track Special Court's and POCSO Courts,” leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, wrote on X.

“Even after pursuing the matter directly with the chief minister of West Bengal herself, she ignored the issue which was very much required for ensuring quick Justice for Women & Children.”