After spending than four hours speaking to the women of Sandeshkhali who alleged that Trinamool Congress leaders had committed sexual atrocities and torture upon them, National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma today said that that the Mamata Banerjee Government was trying to “suppress the voice of women so that the truth would not come out” and demanded President’s Rule in Bengal.
“After speaking to women in the area, I found out the situation here in Sandeshkhali is horrible. Several women narrated their ordeals. One of them said that she was raped inside the Trinamool party office here. We demand that President’s Rule be imposed in Bengal. We shall also mention it in our report. I shall also meet the President of India.” Sharma said.
“President’s Rule is the only way out. I myself have received two complaints of rape and 18 complaints of very severe molestation which say that the victims were disrobed and touched inappropriately,” she told reporters “Women are afraid to speak out. They not only fear societal pressure, but Police se bhi daar hai,” she added, accusing the police of working at the behest of the Trinamool Congress.
The NCW chairperson alleged that neither the District Magistrate nor the Superintendent of Police were present there to meet her.
The NCW chief was accompanied by some of her colleagues, including Shalini Singh who had visited the troubled area with another commission member Delina Khongdup five days ago and had submitted their report following which the NCW chief rushed to Sandeshkhali. Last week, the two members of NCW had visited the area and submitted a report revealing a “troubling pattern of negligence and complicity” by the State Government and law enforcement officials.
“I am in Sandeshkhali for the entire day to hear from women. But the culprit must be arrested. Once Shahjahan Shiekh is arrested, I believe more women will come out with their complaints. We have to instil confidence in them. I will talk to the police,” Sharma told reporters soon after reaching the area.
“The administration and the police are not listening to complaints of women and they do not do anything. Only one woman has come out and registered her statement before a magistrate. We want more women to come in the front… Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has never allowed her officers to meet teams of Central officers as she is trying to hide the truth… but the truth will come out,” Sharma asserted.
After her visit to Sandeshkhali, the NCW chairperson rushed to meet Governor C.V. Ananda Bose who opened a “Peace Room” at Raj Bhavan today to offer shelter to the oppressed women of Sandeshkhali.
Reacting to Sharma’s allegations, the Trinamool Congress dubbed the visit by the NCW as “politically motivated” and wondered why the commission failed to show similar promptness in BJP-ruled States.
“Why didn’t she visit Madhya Pradesh’s Morena, where a pregnant woman was gang-raped and set ablaze? Why didn’t the NCW respond when female wrestlers protested against the BJP MP’s alleged sexual misconduct? Why did the commission ignore complaints of atrocities against women in Manipur?” senior State Minister Shashi Panja questioned.
She claimed that the West Bengal Government has taken all necessary steps to control the situation and several people have been arrested from the area.
“The commission should act impartially and should not act as extended offices of the BJP,” Trinamool Congress State vice-president Jaiprakash Majumdar said.
Asked to react to the Trinamool Congress’ allegations that the NCW was working under the influence of the BJP, Sharma declined to comment. “Let them say whatever they want to, I don’t want to comment on it,” she said.
A large number of women in Sandeshkhali in North 24-Parganas district bordering Bangladesh have accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab under coercion and sexually assaulting” them.
Shajahan has been absconding after a mob, allegedly instigated by him, attacked Enforcement Directorate officials and their CRPF escorts who had gone to search his premises in connection with a multi-crore ration scam on January 5.
