"Ghor Paap..." PM Modi meets with Sandeshkhali women, slams TMC for "shielding Shahjahan"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met with women from Sandeshkhali, including complainants who have alleged sexual harassment and outraging of their modesty in the hands of, now arrested and suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Seikh and his associates. The meeting took place in the sidelines of his public meeting at Barasat, the third in West Bengal this election season, in less than a week, where several women from Sandeshkhali had also participated.

“It is a very sensitive issue. The Prime Minister was very sensitive towards the women. There were three of them, including one who has complained of gang rape. The meeting happened in private where the PM had patiently heard them. One of the women broke down while narrating her ordeal”, said a BJP leader who was there present during the meeting.

Sandeshkhali had erupted in protest in February following raids at the house of Sheikh Shahjahan by Enforcement Directorate officials early in January. Several women, after Shahjahan went absconding had taken to streets in protest against him and his associates Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar, alleging torture, intimidation, land encroachment and even sexual harassment against the trio. All of them have been arrested by Bengal police and the case has been handed of CBI by Calcutta High Court. The state government has challenged the order of Calcutta High Court and denied handing over of Shahjahan to the central agencies as yet.

“TMC has committed a grave sin. Instead of punishing the culprits, they are trying to shield them in courts. But after high court, the TMC government has received another jolt in Supreme Court. What has happened with the women of Shandeshkhali has shamed everyone”, PM Modi lashed at the Mamata Banerjee government from his Barasat Rally on Wednesday which was themed on “Naari Shakti Vandan” (Honouring the Women power).

The Calcutta High Court had directed the West Bengal police to transfer the custody of Sheikh Shahjahana and case materials to the Central Bureau of Investigation of by 4:30pm on Tuesday. However, the state government refused to transfer Shahjahan’s custody and moved to the Supreme Court. After the apex court dismissed the Bengal government’s plea, the Calcutta High court for the second time has directed the state police to transfer Sheikh Shahjahan to the CBI by 4:15pm on Wednesday.