The arrest of Trinamool Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh on Thursday morning triggered a slugfest between the Trinamool Congress and the Opposition parties – the Bharatiya Janata Party and the CPIM. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress, in an urgent press conference at the party headquarters, announced that the Sandeshkhali gram pradhan had been suspended from the primary membership of the party for six years. BJP leader, Suvendu Adhikari slammed the Trinamool Congress, saying: “It’s an understanding arrest, assured by the Mamata Government – ‘aapko kuch hone wala nahi hai’ (nothing will happen to you)”.
Suvendu Adhikari and party MLA Shankar Ghosh had to face police obstacles at multiple points while going to Sandeshkhali today till the Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam asserted in open court that “nobody can be prevented from visiting Sandeshkhali.
Santanu Sen, Trinamool Congress MP, said the action against Shahjahan Sheikh proved that the State Government “follows Rajdharma” in all administrative matters.
“His arrest proves that our Government follows Rajdharma in all administrative matters. We had taken action against Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Mallick, and similarly, we have taken action against Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar, and now Sheikh Shahjahan has been arrested,” Santanu Sen said even as the State Police whisked Shahjahan to the CID headquarters in Kolkata, after the State Police got his custody for 10 days.
Taking a dig at the BJP, Sen said that the party should learn “Rajdharma” from TMC.
“Our leader Abhishek Banerjee had said that the police were unable to arrest him due to the court’s stay order. He has been arrested within 3-4 days of the removal of the stay order,” he said.
Amit Malviya, in-charge of the BJP’s National Information & Technology Department and Co-in charge of West Bengal, in a post on X said: “After defending Shahjahan Sheikh on the floor of West Bengal Assembly, a red-faced Mamata Banerjee, left with no option, finally allowed WB Police to arrest the TMC leader, accused of sexual violence, murder, land grab and assault on Government officials in #Sandeshkhali.” Naming other Trinamool Congress leaders, Malviya alleged that they “run similar reign of terror because they deliver votes to Mamata Banerjee”.
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose welcomed Shahjahan Sheikh’s arrest and asserted that “time has come to put criminals, who are ruling the roost in parts of Bengal, behind bars.”
“This is the beginning of an end. We have to put an end to the cycle of violence in Bengal. In parts of Bengal, the goons are ruling the roost. This must end and the gangsters should be put behind bars”, the Governor said at a press interaction. “I told you there will be light at the end of the tunnel. That is democracy, and a lesson for everyone. Now, let’s hope a new dawn of lawfulness will come back to Bengal. I am glad that good things are happening,” he added.
BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh said: “The State Police has no other option left rather than to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan as the court already gave the verdict that CBI and ED can arrest Sheikh Shahjahan for the interest of the public. To keep Sheikh Shahjahan in their safe custody, the State Police already arrested him and we hope that the truth of Sandeshkhali will come out through different kinds of agencies as well as court intervention. Party of the scoundrels and criminals – the TMC – will face the consequences.”
CPIM politburo member Md. Selim said: “This arrest is a got-up game between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Nothing will come from it because the Trinamool and the BJP are actually acting in concert. Our popular leader and former Sandeshkhali MLA Nirapada Sardar was arrested by Mamata’s police because he was encouraging the women of Sandeshkhali to come forward with their stories of shame and exploitation. We shall not rest till our sisters of Sandeshkhali get justice.”
Though there was a palpable sense of relief in Sandeshkhali, Shahjahan Sheikh, received support from other Trinamool leaders, despite his suspension from the party.
North Bengal Development Affairs Minister Udayan Guha said: “This is not only a conspiracy but a blunder.” He maintained that Shahjahan was being framed.
