New Delhi: A staff of BJP MPs, together with two union ministers, was prevented by the police from visiting Sandeshkhali in West Bengal on Friday, the place villagers have been protesting in opposition to alleged atrocities by native TMC leaders. The six-member delegation, led by BJP president J P Nadda, was stopped at Rampur village on the way in which to Sandeshkhali block in North 24 Parganas district, citing prohibitory orders beneath Part 144 of CrPC. The BJP leaders staged a sit-in and accused the Mamata Banerjee authorities of protecting the culprits and suppressing the voice of the victims.
“We’re right here to fulfill the affected individuals and provides them justice. The police are very fast to cease us, however they’ve didn’t arrest Shajahan Sheikh and his goons, who’re answerable for the violence,” mentioned Annapurna Devi, the union minister of state for schooling and the convenor of the staff.
Yesterday, Mamata Banerjee took to the ground of Meeting and defended Shahjahan Sheikh, maligned the ladies, who’ve been raped… She was remorseless. This type of depravity is the demise knell for democracy in West Bengal.
The CM, by her intervention, has prejudiced the police.… pic.twitter.com/1MgCGWczqL
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 16, 2024
Shajahan Sheikh, a TMC strongman, has been on the run since January 5, when a mob, allegedly linked to him, attacked Enforcement Directorate officers who had gone to raid his premises in reference to a ration rip-off.
A number of ladies in Sandeshkhali have accused Shajahan and his supporters of grabbing their land and sexually assaulting them beneath duress. Pratima Bhoumik, the union minister of state for social justice and empowerment, mentioned that the police had been “attempting to guard the criminals and goons” and that the legislation and order state of affairs in Sandeshkhali was “non-existent”.
“We’re union ministers and MPs, and there are particular protocols. The state police and the administration usually are not respecting these protocols. They’re performing on the orders of the chief minister, who desires to cover the reality from the general public,” she mentioned.
The opposite members of the BJP staff had been Sunita Duggal, Kavita Patidar, Sangeeta Yadav, Brij Lal, a former Uttar Pradesh DGP, and Khagen Murmu.
The delegation was fashioned by Nadda after he visited the state earlier this week and met the households of BJP staff who had been allegedly killed or injured within the post-poll violence. The BJP has claimed that the TMC has unleashed a reign of terror on its supporters and staff after successful the meeting elections in Could.
The TMC, nonetheless, has dismissed the BJP’s allegations as baseless and politically motivated. It has additionally questioned the necessity for the BJP staff to go to Sandeshkhali, saying that the state of affairs was beneath management and the police had been taking motion in opposition to the perpetrators of any violence.
“The police did the correct factor by stopping the BJP delegation. It’s attempting to vitiate the ambiance of the state. When the administration is doing every part to revive peace, the BJP is attempting to disturb that for political good points,” mentioned TMC chief Santanu Sen.
The BJP staff, later within the day, will meet Governor C V Ananda Bose in Kolkata. Sandeshkhali has been witnessing protests for the seventh consecutive day on Thursday, with numerous ladies demonstrators demanding the arrest of Shajahan Sheikh and his associates.
