Kolkata: Amid accusations of sexual assault by multiple women against TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his associates in Sandeshkhali, the leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, mentioned on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the West Bengal village. According to Adhikari, preparations for the visit are in the early stages, with finalization of the dates pending.
On Monday, Suvendu Adhikari obtained permission from the Calcutta High Court to visit the troubled Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district. The court also halted the enforcement of Section 144 of the CrPC in the area, which restricts gatherings of more than five people.
Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP in 2020 after parting ways with Mamata Banerjee's TMC, is scheduled to visit the gram panchayat under Sandeshkhali Block-II on Tuesday, as directed by Justice Kaushik Chanda. He criticized Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of orchestrating the events in Sandeshkhali due to fear of losing Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP leader claimed that Sheikh, the accused TMC leader, remains free because the TMC requires such individuals during elections and provides them protection. Several women in Sandeshkhali have accused Sheikh and his associates of land extortion and sexual assault, leading to Sheikh being on the run after an attempted search by the Enforcement Directorate was met with a hostile mob.
In response, Mamata Banerjee blamed the BJP, along with the Enforcement Directorate and the media, for orchestrating the incident. She alleged that the BJP is attempting to create disturbance in West Bengal and claimed that no woman in Sandeshkhali has filed an FIR.
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a petition seeking a CBI probe into the sexual assault cases in Sandeshkhali, stating that the matter is already being considered by the Calcutta High Court in a suo motu proceeding. The petition, filed by lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava, sought a three-member judicial committee, compensation for victims, and action against guilty officers. The Calcutta High Court is set to continue its hearing on the case on February 20.
