‘Entire Bengal is Sandeshkhali Now’: Agnimitra Paul Attacks Mamata Govt Over Inaction Against TMC Leaders

Legislator Agnimitra Paul launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee for not taking action against the party leaders, who allegedly harassed the women of Sandeshkhali sexually and grabbed their lands forcibly. She alleged that the entire state was turning into unrest-hit Sandeshkhali under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.

Speaking on the second day of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s National Council Meet in Delhi, the fashion designer-turned politicians said, “Despite being a woman chief minister, Mamata Banerjee stood by the absconding accused, Sheikh Shahjahan.”

She also said that the Bengal chief minister was helping Rohingyas settle in India.

Paul’s remarks came a day after Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while speaking at the BJP National Convention’s Day 1 on Saturday, condemned the Sandeshkhali violence.

“Whatever has happened in Sandeshkhali and the bravery with which our workers are fighting against this oppression and tyranny, I want to congratulate on this. I consider such incidents to be a stain on the civilized society. This should be strongly condemned,” he said.

Sandeshkhali, a small village in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, has been rocked by protests for over a week as women have alleged atrocities committed against them by a TMC strongman Shajahan Sheikh, and his aides.

Top police officials gave said prohibitory orders under Section 144  of the CrPC will continue in the area for at least another day.

The main accused in the Sandeshkhali violence, TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra was arrested on Saturday. He was arrested from the Najat area of ​​Basirhat in West Bengal.

Hazra, a TMC block president, had been missing since women in Sandeshkhali levelled allegations of sexual harassment and rape against him and another party member.

Responding to the remarks of BJP leaders on the Sandeshkhali unrest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “How many central agency teams you have sent for the Billis Bano case or in areas where Dalit atrocities take place? You send probe teams sending here only. The Centre deliberately sent the ED and then the BJP, in collaboration with media houses, is escalating things. We could not arrest anyone as no case was lodged.”

“I told police to file a suo moto FIR and our block president got arrested. But how many BJP leaders, who have cases against them, get arrested?” she asked.