'Made to Happen': Mamata claims BJP used ED and media to 'script' Sandeshkhali incident
Mamata Banerjee noted that no woman in Sandeshkhali has filed an FIR and it was she who directed the police to initiate a suo motu case in this regard.
West Bengal news: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo on Sunday alleged that the Sandeshkhali incident was “scripted” by the BJP with the help of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the media. The West Bengal Chief Minister alleged that the saffron party used the Central Bureau of Investigation and media to create ruckus in the area and fanned violence in a bid to create unrest in the state.
“An incident has occurred (in Sandeshkhali). It was made to happen. First they (BJP) sent the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and then ED's friend, the BJP, entered Sandeshkhali along with some media who started creating a ruckus,” Banerjee alleged while speaking at a public distribution program organized by the state government in Suri in Birbhum district.
'Police took suo moto action at my request'
Mamata noted that no woman in Sandeshkhali has filed an FIR and it was she who directed the police to initiate a suo motu case in this regard.
“Not a single woman (from Sandeshkhali) has filed an FIR. It was I who directed the police to file a suo motu case. Our bloc president has been arrested,” she said.
Banerjee said she would send her officers to Sandeshkhali, who would talk to locals to find out if the complaints were genuine.
“In Bengal, we take action when people are tortured. I will send agents who will listen to the people and if it turns out that someone has taken things from them, they will get everything back. It is my promise,” the Prime Minister said.
'TMC leaders, ministers jailed under fake cases'
The West Bengal CM also alleged that several TMC leaders, including four ministers, have been “fraudulently” jailed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to help the BJP win elections.
“There is one PMLA… You can file complaints against anyone and for that you collect evidence, talk to witnesses, frame charges and let the judiciary function in its own way. But keeping someone in jail year after year without any evidence… you think about winning the election this way,” she said.
Even Indira could not win after the Emergency
Referring to the Emergency of 1975-77, Banerjee stated that even Prime Minister Indira Gandhi could not win the elections after putting more than 2,000 people in jail.
“Even today, if anyone thinks the same by threatening people, using the CBI, ED and Election Commission and putting people in jail, I would say we have the right to oppose that too,” opined she.
Sandeshkhali incident
Since the first week of February, villages in Sandeshkhali area of North 24 district have been witnessing protests over allegations of sexual atrocities against women and land grabbing by TMC leaders.
Police have so far arrested 18 people, including local TMC leader Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, in connection with the Sandeshkhali violence incidents. They have also added sections on 'gang rape' and 'attempted murder' against three of the main suspects, one of whom is still absconding.
The sections were added after a victim woman recorded her statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC.
How many teams sent when Dalits and minorities were tortured?
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee attacked the BJP for 'sending' teams of rights groups to Sandeshkhali, asking how many of them were sent when Dalits and other marginalized people were being tortured?
She asked, “How many teams were sent when Dalits and SC-ST people were tortured? How many teams were sent after the Bilkis Bano case?
Stating that four children died after being buried by earth in a BSF trench at Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur district recently, the TMC chief asked the BJP how many teams had been sent there.
The TMC supremo attacked the BJP and questioned whether the party has taken any action against any of its tainted leaders.
Her questions came after the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes visited Sandeshkhali. The BJP, Congress and Left parties also tried to reach the area but were stopped by police.
Banerjee also referred to the ongoing agitation among farmers in Haryana, Punjab, who demanded the government's guarantee of MSP. Banerjee said farmers in Bengal are not facing any problem.
“I salute the farmers' protest. I condemn the attacks on them. In Bengal, farmers are our 'annadatas' who provide us with food. But look at the way they are being treated by them (BJP). Look at how Punjab, Delhi and Haryana are on fire. I sympathize with our farmers,” she said.
(With PTI inputs)