The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday launched a scathing attack at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the Sandeskhali issue and questioned the silence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Terming it a “serious issue”, Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the alleged sexual assault of women is shame on our society and democracy and asked what Bengal CM is trying to hide.
“Sandeskhali issue is serious…What is emerging about the blatant assault, humiliating treatment and sexual assault of women is a shame on our society and democracy. Mamata Banerjee is still defending it. Why?…One journalist was also arrested. What does Mamata Banerjee want to hide, and why? To save her political reputation, a woman CM is risking the honour of women. Why? Where has her conscience died?…Why are the parties silent? I heard that a woman leader of the CPI(M) visited the area but the CPI(M) has not opposed it (the incident), it has not made a public comment. Rahul Gandhi is silent…,” Prasad said.
What is the Sandeskhali row?
The BJP has accused Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of sexually assaulting women in Sandeskhali, a small village in the North 24 Parganas district.
Sheikh is the same leader whose supporters had attacked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials when the arrived at his premises to conduct raids in connection with a corruption case.
Over the last few days, locals have been staging protests against the TMC leader over allegations of sexual assault and land grab.