West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she would visit Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district on December 30 to attend a public distribution programme.
This would be her first visit to the island, located on the border of the Sundarbans, since the area witnessed large-scale protests earlier this year over alleged land grabbing and sexual harassment of women by local TMC leaders.
Also read: Lok Sabha elections: 'I will visit Sandeshkhali if…' – here's what Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said in Basirhat
“I will visit Sandeshkhali on December 30 to attend a public distribution programme. People had asked me before the elections whether I would visit Sandeshkhali or not. I had told them that I would go later,” the CM told reporters at the state secretariat PTI.
“This will be a government program. We have completed several ongoing programs under 'Lakshmir Bhandar', 'Banglar Bari' and other programmes. About 20,000 beneficiaries of the area will benefit from various state schemes. I hope to present certificates of various programs to about 100 people from the stage,” she added.
Also read: If Sheikh Shahjahan is removed, political trajectory could change…: How TMC leader 'became more influential than ministers'
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is planning to hold a 'Jana Sanjog Yatra' in the area the day after the Chief Minister's visit.
How did Sandeshkhali make headlines?
The Sandeshkhali area, located on the border of the Sundarbans, about 100 kilometers from Kolkata, has been embroiled in unrest since February following protests over allegations of sexual abuse and land grabbing involving now-arrested TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters .
Also read: Sandeshkhali TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh tortured tribals and extorted MNREGA wages: investigation
However, Sheikh's subsequent suspension from the party, his arrest by the state police and the eventual filing of a chargesheet against him by the CBI left little impact on the EVM machine, with the TMC registering a comprehensive victory in the Basirhat seat. which Sandeshkhali is a part of, despite BJP fielding Rekha Patra, an alleged victim in the hands of the discredited leader.
The incident was compounded by serious allegations against the Sheikh, including accusations of land grabbing and sexual abuse of local women, which put the TMC on its back foot.
As tensions rose, women in the area accused Sheikh and his associates of sexual harassment and land grabbing. Sheikh was arrested by the CBI on February 29.
(With input from agencies)