Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee
Credit: PTI Photo
Bolpur: Alleging that the 'mistruth' about Sandeshkhali was spread by the BJP using money, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop 'shedding crocodile tears' as the 'conspiracy hatched by the saffron party' has come to the fore with the unravelling of a recent sting.
The TMC on Saturday released a video on social media, in which a man, who claimed to be a BJP mandal president in Sandeshkhali, was heard saying that Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, was behind the 'whole conspiracy'.
In the purported video, the authenticity of could not be independently verified by the PTI, the man was heard saying that Adhikari had asked him and other BJP leaders of the area to 'instigate three-four local women to level allegations of rape against three TMC leaders, including Shajahan Sheikh'.
Addressing an election rally in Bolpur Lok Sabha seat in support of TMC candidate and sitting MP Satabdi Roy, Banerjee said, "Blatant lies were invented by the BJP, which plotted a conspiracy by giving money to some people to tell lies."
"Did anyone ever imagine that BJP would stoop so low that it would spread canards on Sandeshkhali? Don't dishonour the mothers of West Bengal by leveling such heinous allegations. Don't dare try to disrespect women of the state by offering them money to level false allegations against our party," Banerjee said.
Accusing PM Modi of taking the words of 'few people' in his party on face value, she said that 'by seeing the reaction of BJP leaders to the video, it was apparent that they were scared'.
"However, if some people, including those from the TMC, committed any wrong, the party and the state government have always been quick to take disciplinary action against them, no matter how powerful they are," she asserted.
Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district had erupted in protests after women accused now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his associates of sexual abuse and land grabbing. He has been arrested and is now in CBI custody.