BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has said that if the saffron party comes to power in West Bengal, it will send Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to jail for arresting the protesting women in Sandeshkhali.
The remark comes a day after Mamata Banerjee attended a programme in Sandeshkhali during her first visit to the area since allegations of sexual harassment and land grabbing by local TMC leaders surfaced earlier this year.
Suvendu held a rally at the same place and accused the TMC government of framing false charges against women in the area for protesting against the alleged misdeeds by local party leaders.
While addressing a public meeting on the island in North 24 Parganas district, Adhikari described Banerjee as a person with mischievous intent and vowed to constitute an inquiry commission to probe into alleged atrocities by local TMC leaders if the BJP comes to power in the 2026 assembly polls.
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"Mamata Banerjee had conspired for the arrest of mothers and sisters at Sandeshkhali before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. They were slapped with false charges and arrested for protesting against the atrocities by local TMC strongmen like Shahjahan Sheikh," the leader of the opposition in the Bengal assembly said.
"If the BJP comes to power in the state (in 2026), a commission will be formed regarding the Sandeshkhali incident. Mamata Banerjee will also be jailed for arresting protesting women in Sandeshkhali," he added.
Sandeshkhali witnessed large-scale protests earlier this year over alleged land-grabbing and sexual harassment of women by local TMC leaders.
Mamata Banerjee, on her first visit to Sandeshkhali since the protests, asked the residents not to pay anyone to avail benefits of state-run schemes.
Banerjee had visited the island to chair a public distribution programme on Monda. She also urged local women not to pay attention if anyone calls them for any reason and alleged that a huge amount of money was used to flare up the protest in Sandeshkhali.
The Bengal CM also urged the residents not to be swayed by misinformation or inducements.
"I know a lot of money was spent here to spread fake news. But I will not say much about it. Lies don't last long; the truth always comes to light. Don't entertain bad people here," she said.
Responding to Mamata's remark, Suvendu said, "Please ask the people of Sandeshkhali. Please ask the sisters of Sandeshkhali. They will speak appropriately."