The Sandeshkhali incident in West Bengal has ignited a political firestorm, with the BJP accusing the TMC and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of neglecting violence and protecting the accused. Allegations of socio-economic and sexual exploitation against women, particularly victims mostly Hindus from Bangladesh with illegal citizenship status, have surfaced. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President JP Nadda condemned the incident at the BJP National Convention 2024. The National Commission for Women (NCW) demanded the immediate arrest of TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan, who is still absconding, and his aides for atrocities against women. TMC leader Shibaprasad Hazra was arrested and sent to 8 days of police custody. The crisis has drawn national attention, with political figures like West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose acknowledging the severity of the situation and the need for justice for the victims. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was also mentioned in the context of the victims' status.
A 4 members NCW team including chairperson @sharmarekha has come today in Kolkata in the morning and directly went to #Sandeshkhali. Rekha Sharma informed media that NCW has registered two rape cases at Sandeshkhali. Report: Pallab Ghosh @NCWIndia @AIRKolkata https://t.co/VOaYPA9MDw
#WATCH | After visiting Sandeshkhali, NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma arrives at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata to meet West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose https://t.co/8PVz8dMpJs
VIDEO | "The chairperson of the National Commission for Women wants to meet me. After that, I will be able to formulate my views more specifically," says West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Sandeshkhali issue. https://t.co/53K5l1m0WE
#WATCH | On the Sandeshkhali incident, MoS and BJP leader Shantanu Thakur says, "...the people are saying that they are being tortured by the TMC cadre. The civil administration and the police administration are trying to hide it and they are not allowing anyone to go there.… https://t.co/5oBpRDgGV9
VIDEO | "There shouldn't be any politics in this. There's only one female CM in the nation; she should listen to them (women of Sandeshkhali) and understand their pain. But instead of that, she is blaming BJP and RSS. This is very shameful," says BJP leader Locket Chatterjee… https://t.co/PkA6sDEOzY
The #BJP hit out at the #TrinamoolCongress over the #Sandeshkhali issue and alleged that Hindu women were being "hunted down" and sexually assaulted by "goons" https://t.co/UAwIn3tNnA
#WATCH | Delhi: On Mamata Banerjee's statement, BJP MP Locket Chatterjee says, "Mamata Banerjee does not believe what the women are saying... The police and Shiekh Shah Jahan and his gang are together. The women will reply to this in 2024..." https://t.co/hbkvscVM1N
#WATCH | A woman staying in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali says, "...What to say about Mamata Banerjee, she did not enquire about us, did not meet us…What to say about her, she herself is a woman and we are also women, in such a situation, if she does not come to us then imagine… https://t.co/04MrP3JKke
National Commission for Women (#NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma demands immediate arrest of #TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan and his aides for atrocities against women in Sandeshkhali area of #WestBengal.
VIDEO | "I have been saying this for 10 years but nobody listened to me. Now that the whole matter has surfaced, everyone has understood the cruelty against women and citizens of Sandeshkhali," says BJP leader Rahul Sinha on Sandeshkhali unrest. https://t.co/vvLvAiYQr7
VIDEO | "I have been saying this for 10 years but nobody listened to me. Now that the whole matter has surfaced, everyone has understood the cruelty against women and citizens of Sandeshkahli," says BJP leader Rahul Sinha on Sandeshkhali unrest. https://t.co/sCtfQai46s
VIDEO | Here's what BJP leader Locket Chatterjee (@me_locket) said on Sandeshkhali violence. "If women went to police to complain, they were told to get permission from Sheikh Shahjahan's gang. Mamata Banerjee said that no complaint was registered regarding this, the reason… https://t.co/1lpZlPTbqS
#WATCH | On the Sandeshkhali incident, BJP MP Locket Chatterjee says, "Mamata Banerjee has not given a single statement till now. Sheikh Shahjahan is still absconding. The police are not able to trace him. They (TMC) want 30% votes...we had heard about atrocities on women in… https://t.co/KeyPCSwezq
Horrifying allegations of socio-economic and sexual exploitation against local #Trinamool leaders in #Sandeshkhali have come out. The victims are mostly Hindus from Bangladesh with illegal citizenship status. Is it their status that helped in their victimisation? Would the #CAA…
STORY | Mamata claims the Sandeshkhali incident orchestrated by BJP; Saffron camp hits back READ: https://t.co/RBvtWtzNnQ (PTI File Photo) https://t.co/rcpCuYkcVQ
BJP, Probe Agency Inflated Issue: Mamata Banerjee On #Sandeshkhali https://t.co/Olh0hgSnrr
#Exclusive | "Told Me They Were Harassed": Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose (@BengalGovernor) On #Sandeshkhali Victims To NDTV's Ankit Tyagi (@Ankit_Tyagi01) Read more: https://t.co/32QfLM9oyl https://t.co/hSXyCKWRln
#Exclusive | "Told Me They Were Harassed": Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose (@BengalGovernor) On #Sandeshkhali Victims To NDTV's Ankit Tyagi (@Ankit_Tyagi01) https://t.co/HqjTXM9FBL
#WATCH | North 24 Parganas: On Sandeshkhali incident, West Bengal minister and TMC leader Partha Bhowmick says, " BJP and CPM were spreading fake news that here our mothers and sisters were being dishonoured. Sandeshkhali's mothers and sisters clarified that nothing like that… https://t.co/ElyMJxSNX9
VIDEO | Here's what West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) said after party's National Council Meeting in Delhi concluded earlier today. "We are fully ready to fight against the atrocities of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. I can assure that West Bengal will… https://t.co/RzSFOU1DM8
VIDEO | "He (TMC leader Shibaprasad Hazra) might be arrested, but it took a long time for this to happen and it was so difficult. Under Mamata Banerjee's rule, there is no 'mamata' towards women. The crisis in Sandeshkhali is still ongoing," says Union MoS Meenakshi Lekhi… https://t.co/qNecm8V6K4
West Bengal chief minister #MamataBanerjee launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the recent #SandeshkhaliViolence, accusing the party of attempting to disrupt peace in the area and failing to take action against its own leaders. https://t.co/LHTbJobObH https://t.co/JJ1QCbTEQt
VIDEO | TMC leader Shibaprasad Hazra was presented before Basirhat subdivision court earlier today in connection with the #SandeshkhaliViolence. He was sent to eight days of police custody by the court. Hazra, named in police complaints along with party colleagues and other two… https://t.co/7Gf7xuH9rF
VIDEO | "Sandeshkhali is a black spot on Indian democracy and (West) Bengal's culture and traditions. It is unfortunate that Mamata Banerjee is standing with those who did wrong against women," says BJP MP Dilip Ghosh (@DilipGhoshBJP). https://t.co/NdB3IMOYfY
VIDEO | BJP workers burn West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's effigy in Delhi in protest against Sandeskhali violence. https://t.co/DX6CGju246
#WATCH | After attending the BJP National Convention 2024 in Delhi, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul says, "TMC and Mamata Banerjee have always denied the incidents of Sandeshkhali. The West Bengal Chief Minister is trying to hide the incidents of Sandeshkhali… We want the Central… https://t.co/piPaHBqIkv
#WATCH | Sandeshkhali violence | Basirhat subdivision court sends TMC leader Shibu Hazra to 8 days of police custody in connection with the Sandeshkhali violence case. https://t.co/sq2c0EeNS4
VIDEO | Here's what BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said on the Sandeshkhali incident. "CM Mamata Banerjee has done nothing in this (Sandeshkhali) case; police was forced to take up this case. Eight women had filed a case earlier but no action was taken. CM is actually protecting the… https://t.co/Uea4da66Yi
#WATCH | Delhi: On Sandeshkhali incident, MoS and BJP leader Shantanu Thakur says, "Everybody knows what is happening there. Democracy is being ruined there. Till this govt (TMC) stays in power, this will continue...Central govt should take some steps against this" https://t.co/kJ8jpaHToA
#WATCH | On Sandeshkhali incident, BJP MP Dilip Ghosh says, " The opposition parties who are protesting (against Sandeshkhali incident) are being arrested. Mamata Banerjee is protecting the goons against whom people are protesting. She will suffer a loss during the election… https://t.co/h6CxUCrhaA
#WATCH | Delhi: On the Sandeshkhali incident, West Bengal BJP State president Dr Sukanta Majumdar says, " Arrest happened after we put pressure but where is the main accused Shahjahan Sheikh?...main accused is not yet arrested..." https://t.co/HWMpzfpzaF
#WATCH | Agartala, Tripura: On TMC Leader Shibaprasad Hazra's arrest, CPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya says, "There is no doubt about gangrape. But this govt is trying to hide it due to politics. They made arrests because of pressure from outside movement and compulsion.… https://t.co/iXpI5zxUuk
#WATCH | North 24 Paraganas, West Bengal: On the Sandeshkhali incident, TMC leader Sujit Bose says, "A few days back our leaders went there, we are going today and will talk to the people about the current situation. Opposition is doing politics, even if there is some issue and… https://t.co/psoAsdz6nT
VIDEO | Here's what BJP leader @DebasreeBJP on Sandeshkhali violence. "Incident like Sandeshkhali are happening across the entire West Bengal. The situation is same in the entire North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas, and people are afraid to enter these places. What was the… https://t.co/LjvTnqZSJm
#WATCH | Patna: On the Sandeshkhali incident, RJD MP Manoj Jha says, "If such an incident happens in any state, it puts us to shame whether it is a BJP-ruled state or a non-BJP ruled state..." https://t.co/mvgcnO3E1q
#WATCH | Delhi: On the Sandeshkhali incident, West Bengal BJP State president Dr Sukanta Majumdar says "It is a very shameful incident. The way women kept saying that they were called repeatedly to TMC offices and raped. The women were told that if they wanted the benefits of… https://t.co/KgyHrU2gwq
VIDEO | Here’s what BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar (@mp_jagannath) said on Sandeshkhali incident. “This is being done purposely under the protection of West Bengal CM Mamata (Banerjee). This is part of a planned conspiracy.” #Sandeshkhali #SandeshkhaliCase https://t.co/Uss6acsib8
VIDEO | Here’s what CPI(M) MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said on Sandeshkhali incident and arrest of local TMC leader Shibaprasad Hazra. “Shibu and his allies are assets of TMC, and police were under the direction of CM and higher officials to provide protection to these goons.… https://t.co/vVuFQ01pwo
VIDEO | "The BJP has gone to great lengths to politicise the events in Sandeshkhali, as they always do, and they have communalised it. If the BJP truly cares about women's security, then I would urge them not to exhibit selective outrage," says TMC leader Sushmita Dev… https://t.co/pYXOQtDqHW
#WATCH | On Sandeshkhali incident, BJP MP Locket Chatterjee says, "The entire country knows about what happened in Sandeshkhali. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and JP Nadda condemned the incident (during BJP National Convention 2024). Women move forward under the leadership of… https://t.co/SgeL71auAh