Sandeshkhali Violence: Smriti Irani vocal against Mamata Banerjee, TMC questions silence on Manipur

Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani on Monday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over a media report highlighting alleged charges of sexual exploitation leveled by the women of Sandeshkhali, against absconding Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his concomitants. Former TMC MP Mahua Moitra in turn questioned Smriti Irani’s silence over the Manipur violence.

Reacting to a media report highlighting the alleged charges of sexual harassment put forth by the local women of Sandeshkhali against absconding TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh Smriti Irani said, "Mamata Banerjee is known for the genocide of Hindus. She will now allow her men to pick out Hindu young married women to be raped night after night in the TMC office cannot be articulated in mere words. The question is can we as citizens be mute spectators?”

The Union Minister further sharpened her attack and added that the women who were allegedly sexually harassed were particularly identified for being married and for belonging to the Hindu community. “Who is this man who has been charged by the women of Sandeshkhali of the mass rape of Bengali Hindu women? Till now everybody has been wondering who is Sheikh Shahjahan. Now, the question Mamata Banerjee has to answer is - where is Sheikh Shahjahan?" added Irani.

Trinamool Congress leader and former Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra was quick to hit back at Smriti Irani over her accusations, drawing inferences to the Union Minister’s purported silence over issues such as the Manipur violence and the treatment meted out to the women wrestlers. “"Cannot Be Spectators" Hon'ble WCD minister Smriti Irani “Slams” Mamata Banerjee according to BJP. Really Madam? I thought your job definition was a spectator sport given your silence on: Manipur violence, Bilkis Bano, Women wrestlers, & Brij Bhushan,” posted the Trinamool Congress leader on social media platform “X”.

West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali has been on the boil since Wednesday. The violence erupted after the locals hit the streets demanding the arrest of the absconding Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh. Security deployment was beefed up and section 144 was imposed in several villages to curb the violence and prevent any fresh flare ups. According to media reports, local women have alleged that the Trinamool Congress leader mistreated and sexually assaulted the women of the village. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and an entourage of BJP MLAs tried to visit the area on Monday morning, but, were stopped by the police citing prohibitory orders.