Mamata Banerjee Responds To Big Row: “There’s RSS Base In Sandeshkhali”
Amid a political storm over BJP’s sexual harassment allegations in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said she has “never allowed injustice” and accused the Opposition party of inciting trouble on the island in North 24 Parganas district.
“I have never allowed injustice in my life. I sent (representatives of) the state women’s commission (to Sandeshkhali) immediately and 17 people have been arrested,” Ms Banerjee said in the Assembly, shortly after main Opposition BJP staged a walkout over the raging issue.
Blaming the BJP for the unrest on the island, the Trinamool Congress chief said the Centre had targeted local Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan through the Enforcement Directorate. “First, they entered the area and targeted Sheikh Shahjahan though ED and then they started the trouble there by getting people in. There is an RSS base in Sandeshkhali. There were riots earlier too,” she said.
Shahjahan, a local strongman, has been on the run for a month now after ED officials who visited the island to raid his home came under a mob attack.
Ms Banerjee said a police team is meeting women in Sandeshkhali. “A police team of women are going door to door to see if there are any complaints. If they file a report, we will look into it,” she said.
Sandeshkhali has hit headlines after the BJP accused Sheikh Shahjahan’s aides of sexual harassment. The BJP has targeted the Trinamool Congress government in the state over the allegations. The ruling party has trashed the charges and said the BJP is trying to create unrest in the area. The island, meanwhile, has an uneasy calm.