The NCW chief said his visit was to instill confidence among the women of Sandeshkhali. (file)
Kolkata:
National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma on Monday accused the West Bengal government of suppressing the voices of several women in Sandeshkhali during protests against alleged TMC-led atrocities, a claim refuted by the ruling party. It was said that the panel is taking action. In “BJP’s influence”.
During the day, she led a delegation of the Commission to the area and said her visit was to instill confidence in the women there so that many of them come out and start speaking their minds.
The NCW president alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government is “trying to suppress the voice of women so that the truth does not come out”.
“I am in Sandeshkhali the whole day to hear from women. But the culprit must be arrested. Once (Shazhan) Sheikh is arrested, I believe more women will come forward with their complaints. We need to “Confidence has to be built. I will do that.” Talk to the police,” Sharma told reporters soon after reaching the area.
In Sandeshkhali of North 24 Parganas district, a large number of women had accused senior Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Shaikh and his supporters of forcefully grabbing land and sexual harassment.
Shajahan has been missing since on January 5, Enforcement Directorate officials, who had gone to search his premises in connection with the ration scam, were attacked by a mob allegedly associated with him.
Sharma’s visit comes after a two-member team of the commission took stock of the situation in the area last week and submitted a report.
The NCW chief alleged that neither the district magistrate nor the superintendent of police were present there to meet him.
“The administration and the police are not listening to the complaints of women and they are not doing anything. Only one woman has come forward and recorded her statement before the magistrate. We want more women to come forward…Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee She has never She also did not allow her officials to meet the teams of central officials because she is trying to hide the truth… but the truth will come out,” Sharma said.
Last week, two members of the NCW visited the area and submitted a report revealing “disturbing patterns of negligence and collusion” by the state government and law enforcement officials.
“We want to talk to the victims and then meet the Governor of West Bengal and then the President in New Delhi. If even one incident happens, it is shameful,” Sharma said.
He alleged that the TMC government was not allowing the state administration to cooperate with central agencies.
Responding to Sharma’s allegations, TMC termed the NCW visit as “politically motivated” and wondered why the commission failed to show similar promptness in BJP-ruled states.
“Why didn’t he visit Morena in Madhya Pradesh, where a pregnant woman was gang-raped and burnt to death? Why didn’t NCW respond when women wrestlers protested against the alleged sexual misconduct of a BJP MP “Why did the Commission ignore complaints of atrocities against women in Manipur?” Senior state minister Shashi Panja made the inquiry.
He claimed that the West Bengal government has taken all necessary steps to control the situation and several people have been arrested.
TMC state vice-president Jaiprakash Majumdar said, “The commission should work impartially and not act as extended offices of the BJP.”
After a week of protests against alleged TMC-led atrocities on villagers and sexual harassment of women, the situation is gradually returning to normal in Sandeshkhali, with police keeping a tight vigil in the area.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
