West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee: BJP bringing in outsiders to stoke unrest in Sandeshkhali
Times of India | 16 February 2024
KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused BJP of bringing in workers from outside the state to instigate violence in Sandeshkhali and fabricate a minority-versus-Adivasi dispute there. She added that the area, where RSS had a base, was vulnerable to riots.
Speaking in the assembly, Banerjee said, "Investigation has revealed how BJP workers have been brought (from outside) and violence instigated in the area.The primary target was Sheikh Shahjahan. ED entered the area to target him. Following this, they ousted everyone from there and fabricated a minority-versus-Adivasis fight. The tension there is not new. RSS has a base there. Riots took place there 7-8 years back. It is a vulnerable riot spot. We handled the situation during Saraswati Puja or else there were other plans."
The CM said she was the last person to allow injustice and had herself sent the state women's panel and govt teams to Sandeshkhali. "Seventeen people have been arrested. Some people in the area may be aggrieved. Our women's team (women's commission) is there. A women-only police team is visiting doorsteps to listen to grievances. We will definitely address the issues. I need to know the matter to act on it," she said.
Coinciding with the CM’s speech in assembly, a nine-member TMC delegation called on governor CV Ananda Bose, who has sought a judicial inquiry and formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sandeshkhali. Speaking to reporters, state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said, “We told him that a one-sided report was submitted to him (by BJP) and asked him to seek a report from the state administration as well.”
She added the governor was told that BJP was instigating violence in different parts and he asked them to report such incidents. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, also a part of the delegation, said, “Why were CPM’s Nirapada Sardar or BJP’s Bikas Singh silent over Sandeshkali issues for so long? The governor should think about this. Even if the women were silent, why were BJP, Left or ISF silent? The ugly allegations are completely false.” He claimed the governor had said he would seek a report from the administration as well.
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