Bengal politics
Mamata Banerjee claims women are safe in Bengal, BJP 'spreading lies' about Sandeshkhali
Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday claimed that women were safe in West Bengal. and lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that it was spreading lies about sexual abuse of women in Sandeshkhali.
Addressing a meeting after leading a rally from College Square to Dorina Crossing on the eve of International Women's Day, Banerjee asked the BJP how many central teams have visited trouble-torn Manipur. She claimed some 455 such teams have come to Bengal so far.
Many women from Saneshkhali, an island about 90 kilometers from Kolkata in North 24 Parganas district, where TMC leaders especially suspended party member Sheikh Shahjahan have been accused of forcefully grabbing lands and sexually abusing women, joined the rally.
"Where were you when women were paraded naked in Manipur, or when a woman was raped and her body forcibly cremated in Hathras? Have you forgotten Bilkis (Bano)?" Banerjee asked, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a public meeting referred to the Sandeshkhali issue as a matter of "shame", and alleged that the TMC government was not worried about it.
Banerjee said the BJP leaders come to the state during the elections to insult her party and make big promises. But they vanish once the polls are over.
"TMC people are thieves and you all are washing machines," Banerjee said in a sarcastic tone.
Without naming the former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay who joined the BJP earlier in the day, Banerjee said she would set students after him from wherever he contested in the election.
"I know what is right and what is wrong as I am a lawyer," Banerjee said, alleging that the former judge has taken the jobs of thousands of teachers by his orders.
"A BJP babu was sitting on the bench and he joined the BJP. How can you expect justice from him?" asked Banerjee and said now he would face the people.
"We will ensure your defeat no matter from where you contest the Lok Sabha polls," Banerjee said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that her government would not allow the implementation of the National Register of Citizens in West Bengal.
Party's General Secretary Abhisekh Banerjee also took part in the rally.
[With UNI inputs]
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