A delegation of four NCW members led by Sharma will visit Sandeshkhali on Monday to talk to the women who were allegedly subjected to sexual harassment and atrocities at the hands of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders.
“A lot of things were suppressed. The police also did not want the truth to come out. The administration did not listen to the women. Whenever I visit any place, the DM and SP are nowhere to be seen. The Mamata Banerjee government does not let its government officers meet us so that the truth does not come out. However, the truth eventually comes out and no one can stop it,” said Sharma after arriving in Kolkata.
This will be the NCW team’s second visit to Sandeshkhali. Last week, two of its members visited the area and submitted a report revealing a troubling pattern of negligence and complicity” by the Bengal government and police officers.
“We want to talk to the women who had faced atrocities and were subjected to sexual harassment. These women should come out and speak to us without any fear. Even if one incident takes place then it is a matter of shame,” said Sharma.
She informed that on Tuesday, the delegation will call on Governor C V Ananda Bose to submit its report on the situation in Sandeshkhali. “Tomorrow I will meet the Governor and submit my report. I will also meet the President in Delhi,” added Sharma.
When asked about absconding TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan, the NCW chairperson said, “Are the police so incompetent that they cannot arrest him? Are they here to only arrest the relatives of the victims?”
Responding to NCW visit, TMC state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar said, “These people (Rekha Sharma) were previously associated with the BJP and are now being appointed to various commissions. They have lost credibility as such commissions under them cannot be called impartial agencies. They come to West Bengal at the drop of a hat, but fail to visit BJP-ruled states whenever atrocities take place against women. They further complicate the matter by making various kinds of statements, but they do not have the guts to visit Manipur or Madhya Pradesh.”
Sheikh Shajahan has been absconding since January 5 after an Enforcement Directorate team was attacked by a mob while on its way to search his residence in connection with the ration scam. Meanwhile, a large number of women in Sandeshkhali accused Sheikh and his close aides of land grab and sexual assault. TMC leaders Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, who was suspended from the party, were later arrested by the police based on a gang-rape complaint by a woman in Sandeshkhali.
On Monday, the Supreme Court stayed further proceedings on a breach of privilege notice issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to the state chief secretary, DGP and other officials over alleged misconduct against BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar during a protest in connection with the unrest in Sandeshkhali.