Ministers Partha Bhowmick, Sujit Bose and Birbaha Hansda took toto to reach the Radhanagar area of Sandeshkhali and asked people to share their grievances. They addressed the people from a small stage erected at Nazat Ghat.
Bhowmick, while addressing the people in Sandeshkhali, said, “Whatever complaint or grievances you have, you can give it to us in writing, or if anyone wants to speak to us, please feel free to do so. We will be sitting right here for some time. We are here to listen and resolve issues. It is our promise that if any one of you has been duped for money, we will ensure you get it back. For That, if we had to beg contributions from party workers, we would do it together and return your money. We will solve all your problems before March 3, and on that day, we will do a big sabha right in Sandeshkhali to show the BJP and the CPM that we are not migrant birds who come only during winter. We are TMC workers, soldiers of Mamata Banerjee who stick to the ground.”
Speaking to The Indian Express, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said, “It clearly shows that there are two different rules for people in Bengal; one for the TMC and another for the Opposition. Ministers, MLAs, and MPs couldn’t go, but TMC’s cadre-level people are also allowed to speak to the villagers. As far as them doing a sabha, it is just an exercise to keep things in their control and ensure the truth is kept under wraps.”
Minister Bose said they did not go to any area under prohibitory orders. “Sandeshkhali has 14 anchals in which violence was orchestrated in one. This isolated incident is being used to propagate that violence is being witnessed in all of Sandeshkhali. I have been a candidate from Sandeshkhalihe in the past. I know this area, and I have seen how CPI(M) used to torture people here, and the same people are talking like they were saints. Also, I want to question BJP leaders, where do they vanish when women in Manipur are tortured or rape victim is burnt alive in UP? I just want to say it is Bengal where anyone who has done anything wrong will not be spared,”
Alleging that TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan was the kingpin of the atrocities against the villagers, the opposition parties in the state have been demanding his arrest.
Meanwhile, local TMC leader Shibaprasad Hazra, alias Shibu, who was arrested on Saturday, was booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections on gangrape (376D), attempt to murder(307), and molestation amd disrobing (354 B).
The police prayed for an eight-day custody of Shibu, which the court granted. On Sunday, when he was taken to court, slogans of ‘thief-thief’ were raised and women were seen distributing sweets on the streets of Sandeshkhali.
“Now the area will be at peace, we want Sheikh Shah Jahan to be arrested too. We will organise a big picnic if he gets arrested too,” said a local woman.
“The TMC has proved that there is zero tolerance towards wrongdoings in our party and efforts of BJP and CPIM to malign our party remains a futile effort,” said Bhowmick.
“In the last ten years, what has BJP done to ensure a better law and order situation in Bengal? BJP only knows to send fact-finding teams and show people that they are doing something big, but on the ground, they haven’t taken any action. What has the Union Home Minister done so far? TMC and BJP both just comment and counter comment,” said state Congress leader and spokesperson Soumya Aich Roy.
On January 4, ED officials went to search TMC’s strongman Shahjahan Sheikh’s house in Sandeshkhali and the officials were attacked and chased away. Shibu had also remained elusive since then. On February 7, Shibu and another TMC leader, Uttam Sardar, were accused of torturing local women, and they came out on the street demanding their arrest. Uttam, a member of the Zilla Parishad and the then regional TMC president, was arrested over a week ago and is in jail now.