With TMC and BJP opposing each other over the leaked video of Sandeshkhali, the TMC recently stated that they intend to take on Rekha Sharma, the incumbent Chairperson of the NCW. Meaningfully, Shashi Panja, the state Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Minister, acknowledged that the TMC will approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) over this matter. Panja said, “Earlier, sleuths from different commissions of the center visited Sandeshkhali. However, a recent video was publicized where woman who accused the panchayat members of rape, complained that the commission woman pressured villagers for rapes. We already have lodged our complaints against BJP leaders, and now after BJP, we are getting complaint against Rekha Sharma.”
According to the report, a woman came to the spot and threw that leaflet at the NCW chief, which she was holding in her hand. She admitted being in receipt of 18 complaints of them, which included two rape allegations. She bitterly regretted the authorities’ indifference towards registering these complaints. Upon that, he composed an open letter to ECI, which requested immediate action against two women who were allegedly pressured to withdraw their statements by the TMC workers.
Sandeshkhali gained notoriety in February when locals, predominantly women, demanded the arrest of TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates for sexual assault and land encroachment. Shahjahan’s subsequent arrest, followed by CBI intervention, intensified the political tussle. Panja accused Sharma of politicizing the issue, alleging collusion with the BJP, and vowed to expose more such actors.
The NCW chief, though keeping mum, seemed unavailable for the comment, and at the same time, the sting video (aired on May 4th ) had further ignited the controversy. Describing the BJP’s Gangadhar Koyal as having rejected the rape allegations completely because he claimed that it is money that women in politics receive to make up stories. It was shocking when two women from the group ready to change their statement. In addition to that, key officers reminded everyone that just quitting the case was out of the question.
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