The National Commission of Women (NCW) has claimed that West Bengal's Sandeshkhali women are being compelled to withdraw their complaints by TMC workers in view of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. The NCW, thus, sought an inquiry from the Election Commission into the matter. By sharing multiple videos, TMC on Thursday claimed that a local BJP leader made the women of Sandeshkhali sign blank papers and these papers were apparently filled up as complaints of sexual assault.
In a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the women’s rights panel has asked the poll body to look into the matter on a priority basis. The panel has requested the poll body to ensure that women are not compelled to withdraw their complaints due to any threat from TMC workers, as they are “instilling fear” among the women of Sandeshkhali to suppress the victims from coming forward with their complaints.
"The TMC party workers are instilling fear among the women of Sandeshkhali to suppress the victims from coming forward with their complaints potentially impacting the fairness of the election process in the area," the NCW claimed, as quoted by news agency PTI.
ALSO READ | TMC Lodges Complaint Against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, Others Over Sandeshkhali 'Sting Video'
Sandeshkhali Case: TMC To Lodge Complaint Against NCW Chief For Alleged Misuse of Authority
This comes as the Trinamool Congress on Friday warned NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma of a formal complaint to the ECI, accusing her of misusing her position and being a key conspirator in the Sandeshkhali controversy, PTI reported. TMC spokesperson Shashi Panja has demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah speak up on the same and tender an apology on the issue.
West Bengal minister and TMC spokesperson Shashi Panja, in a statement on Friday, asserted that Sharma exhibited political bias in handling the Sandeshkhali allegations and allegedly encouraged women to falsely accuse TMC leaders of sexual atrocities. Panja stated, "We demand that Amit Shah ji, who is coming again, speak up on this matter and tender an apology on the issue," PTI reported.
Abhishek Banerjee, TMC national general secretary, condemned the BJP's alleged involvement, stating, "It is shameful that NCW has turned into BJP's commission." He likened the situation to past conspiracy theories, accusing the BJP of attempting to malign the TMC and the people of West Bengal.
"National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma should present the evidences of rape cases. Women themselves are withdrawing the cases saying they did not know what they were writing. It is for NCW to prove that these are genuine rape cases," TMC MP Sagarika Ghose told PTI.
In purported videos shared by TMC, the women stated that they were asked by a BJP worker, named Piyali Das, to appear in person at the local police station. According to the women in the video, Piyali had asked them to relate their ordeal before the National Commission for Women (NCW) team, which had visited Sandeshkhali to evaluate the ground situation at Sandeshkhali, PTI reported.
As the video progresses further, the women alleged Piyali Das of “making them sign” blank papers. They said that they were surprised to find sexual assault complaints filed in their names. They also added that they never intended to file sexual assault complaints.
Furthermore, another set of videos shared by the TMC allegedly depicts women expressing their desire to retract these complaints, citing threats and monetary inducements from BJP members.
However, it's important to note that the authenticity of these videos has not been independently verified. Despite this, the TMC maintains its stance, accusing the BJP of orchestrating a narrative to garner votes.
In response to TMC's allegations, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has refuted the claims, denouncing the videos as fabricated. Adhikari has also threatened legal action against the TMC regarding this matter.
Rekha Sharma, after visiting Sandeshkali in February, had recommended imposing President's Rule in West Bengal over alleged atrocities on women and violence in the area.