New Bill in Bengal allowing women to work in bars is ‘expression’ of dichotomy: Amit Malviya

Kolkata, March 20 (IANS) Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT Cell Chief and the party’s special observer for West Bengal, on Thursday, criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led state government for passing a Bill during the ongoing second round of the Budget Session of the Assembly, removing provisions in the Bengal Excise Act, 1909, that prohibited employment of women in ON-category liquor shops.

While ‘Of’ shops are outlets that sell liquor, at ‘On’ shops, consumption of liquor is allowed on the premises.

Although the state government claimed that the new Bill tends to remove discrimination which were prevalent in the existing Act, BJP leader Malviya had claimed that the logic put forward by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government is an expression of its dichotomy.

According to Amit Malviya, on one hand, amid the R.G. Kar rape and murder incident, the West Bengal government introduced a scheme called ‘Ratri Sathi’, which aimed to restrict women from working late at night.

While this was an implicit admission of the failure on the part of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s administration to ensure women’s safety, Malviya argued, the new bill allowing freedom to women as barmaids in bars, pubs and dance clubs under the guise of promoting equality was a dichotomy on part of the state government.

“So, what has changed? Has Bengal suddenly become safer? Or is this just another way for TMC hooligans to exploit women?” Malviya asked in a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday.

The BJP leader has also expressed doubts about whether the state government has considered some important aspects before taking the decision to allow women to work in bars.

“The first point was whether the state government and the Chief Minister considered whether adequate safety measures were in place for women working in such bars, many of which might not even have proper licenses,” Malviya said.

He also questioned whether Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assessed the risk of women being coerced into night shifts for increased revenue, therefore, making them more vulnerable to harassment or the move was a way to push women into questionable avenues of employment after failing to deliver on her grand promise of “double-double” jobs.

“And most importantly — Can Bengal afford the risk of another Jessica Lal case when Mamata Banerjee has made it abundantly clear that the state now thrives on lawlessness, where crimes against women are not just rampant but also shielded?” Malviya asked the state government in his statement.

–IANS

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