Calcutta:
In another twist to the Sandeskhali row, a woman has alleged that people associated with the BJP made her sign a blank paper and then wrote a fake rape complaint in her name. The development has intensified the political blame game between the ruling Trinamool and the BJP, bringing the Sandeshkhali issue to the fore during the election season.
Speaking to the media, a resident of Sandeshkhali said that the day a team from the National Commission for Women visited the island, a woman named Piyali called them to share their complaints. “I told them that we had not received any money as part of the 100-day job scheme. I just wanted that money and had no other complaint. No rape took place. She (Piyali) made us sign on a blank sheet,” said the woman. said, adding that she later came to know that she is on the list of women who alleged they were raped by local Trinamool leaders.
The woman's daughters-in-law accused Piyali of defaming Sandeshkhali. “She is an outsider, she comes from somewhere else and talks big. We don't know how she has information on everyone here. Initially, she would only join the protests here. Later we came to know that she joined the BJP. She should be punished for lying to us and trapping us. The woman and her family said they are now receiving threats for speaking out against Piyali.
The Trinamool Congress, which took a backseat after local party leaders were accused of rape, land grabbing and extortion, has taken up the woman's allegations and accused the BJP of fabricating stories to defame the ruling party for political gain.
Trinamool MP Sushmita Dev alleged that the BJP is threatening the “courageous women of Sandeshkhali for daring to speak out against them”. “How long will this party continue to spin a web of deceit, shamelessly trampling on the dignity of our mothers and sisters because of their own political greed?” she asked.
The BJP hit back, describing Trinamool's allegations as an exercise in damage control that has come too late. Party spokesperson Priyanka Tibrewal said the Trinamool should understand that there is no point in crying over spilled milk. Why is Trinamool reacting now? Why were they silent for two to three months. They said earlier that the women (of Sandeshkhali) were lying, now they are saying that they had to lie. Whatever damage needed to happen has happened. There is no smoke without fire,” she told NDTV.
The Trinamool Congress has now filed a complaint with the Election Commission against several BJP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, accusing them of leveling fabricated allegations in the Sandeshkhali case.
The nondescript island in North 24 Parganas made headlines in February when locals accused strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides of harassing them. Shahjahan, now expelled by the Trinamool Congress, was arrested after being on the run for over a month in a case related to a gang attack on Enforcement Directorate officials who were investigating him. He is now in CBI custody.
In a shocking twist in the Sandeskhali row last week, a video of a local BJP leader started doing the rounds. The video showed Gangadhar Koyal allegedly admitting that no rapes or sexual harassment had taken place in Sandeshkhali and that women were convinced to file such complaints on Mr Adhikari's instructions.
The BJP and the leader in the video claim that the clip was doctored and his voice was edited. A report has also been filed with the police.