Mamata rebuts Modi’s Sandeshkhali jibe, calls for a “People’s Tornado” against BJP

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership, accusing them of spreading misinformation about the Sandeshkhali incident. The Trinamool Congress Supremo spearheaded a rally in Kolkata that also included the women of Sandeshkhali on the eve of International Women’s Day and strongly asserted that West Bengal is the safest place for women in this country. “The people of Bengal must rise in rage; raise a political storm against the oppressive politics of BJP,” said Banerjee slamming the BJP leadership for allegedly maligning Bengals’s image.

"Yesterday, BJP leaders said women are tortured and assaulted in Bengal. I can challenge that women are the safest in Bengal. Women of Bihar do not get justice, neither do the women of UP or Rajasthan nor do the women of Hathas get justice. Where were the BJP leaders when the women of Manipur were paraded naked? Where were they when a woman was raped and her body forcibly cremated in Hathras? You talk about ‘nari ka samman’, but even after Sakshi Malik and other women wrestlers protested against your party’s MP (Brij Bhushan) what did you do?” questioned the Trinamool Congress Supremo while hitting out at the Prime Minister over his remarks on the Sandeshkhali issue. “Have you forgotten about Bilkis? So many helpless women belonging to the minority communities, so many helpless mothers and sisters have been tortured and tormented by you,” she added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday while addressing a public gathering in Bengal’s Barasat slammed the ruling Trinamool Congress government for their alleged apathy towards the women of Sandeshkhali. “TMC has committed a grave sin. Instead of punishing the culprits, they are trying to shield them in court. But after the High Court, the TMC government has received another jolt in the Supreme Court. What has happened with the women of Sandeshkhali has shamed everyone,” said the Prime Minister. Narendra Modi had also met with the victims of Sandeshkhali who had leveled charges of sexual harassment against the now-arrested suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates. The Prime Minister had also been very vocal about the Sandeshkhali issue throughout his Bengal visit during the public addresses in Arambagh and Krishnagar, and had time and again lashed out at Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress government accusing them of turning a deaf ear to the plight of the women of Sandeshkhali.

Both the state government and the central government are at loggerheads over the Sandeshkhali issue. The island village of Sandeshkhali came to light after Enforcement Directorate officials en route to raid the now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan’s residence were attacked by his supporters. The turmoil in Sandeshkhali further escalated after the women of the village hit the streets brandishing sticks and sickles and leveled charges of sexual harassment and land grab under coercion against Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates Sibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar. A political storm ensued thereafter where the BJP leadership accused the Trinamool Congress government of protecting their now-suspended leader. Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested on February 29 after being at large for over 50 days. Following a Calcutta High Court verdict, the suspended Trinamool Congress leader’s custody has now been transferred to the CBI for further investigation in connection with the attack on the ED officials.​