Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday put the blame squarely on the BJP for fomenting trouble in Sandeshkhali, while asserting that all necessary steps have been taken to restore peace in the area. Speaking in the state legislative Assembly, Miss Banerjee broke her silence on the issue, as she accused the BJP of engineering the situation in Sandeshkhali to make it a trouble-spot by importing some outsiders.

“Some people were giving tall talk on the Sandeshkhali issue with a section of the media replaying their version without knowing anything about the real cause. I have never condoned injustice and violence. I have already sent the state women commission there. Police have already taken steps by arresting 17 persons for the unrest and also apprehended those who were showing themselves on camera wearing masks. These all turned out to be BJP activists,” Miss Banerjee said.

“The ED (Enforcement Directorate) first entered Sandeshkhali targeting Shahjahan, there was a deliberate attempt to create tension between minority and tribal populations,” she said. Referring to the protests against alleged sexual harassment of women, Miss Banerjee said: “Anybody may have some issues to vent anger and stage protests. Should there is anything like this the government will take steps.

Women’s commission and a team of women police have been sent there, who are going door to door to listen to their complaints. They will submit their report and on the basis of that, if there is any problem, we definitely will act according to it. First we will have to know what is the fact.” Miss Banerjee also said that the Sandeshkhali tensionwas nothing new. “There is a RSS base there. An incident like what is unfolding now had taken place about seven to eight years back,” said the chief minister.

Miss Banerjee also spoke about the deaths of four children in a trench collapse at Chopra in North Dinajpur, for which she blamed the Border Security Force and demanded stern action by the Central government against the BSF personnel responsible. “ There are reports suggest that the BSF there are distributing various items packing in saffron bags. Who are they? Your work is to secure border and not to hold camps for the BJP,” she went on to say.