India, Feb. 13 -- Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmakers on Thursday asked President Droupadi Murmu to expedite grant of the presidential assent to the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024 which was passed by the state assembly last year.

Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose reserved the stringent new bill, which sought to make the death penalty mandatory in cases involving rape and murder, for the President's consideration on September 6.

"The bill was passed in the West Bengal assembly with the support of the Opposition, but it has not yet been considered by the President's office. We had an extensive meeting and discussion with the President. We submitted the details of the bill along with our demands," TM...