KOLKATA, Feb 19:
National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma on Monday called for resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and imposition of President’s Rule following allegations of sexual abuse by TMC leaders in Sandeshkhali.
The NCW chief’s remarks drew a sharp rebuttal from the ruling TMC, which accused the panel of echoing the BJP’s agenda and wondered why the panel failed to show similar promptness in BJP-ruled states.
Sharma, who led a delegation of NCW to the unrest-hit area in North 24 Parganas district, said the visit was aimed at bolstering confidence among women to speak out about their experiences.
Amid ongoing tensions in Sandeshkhali over protests against TMC-led atrocities and sexual harassment, police maintained a strong presence as normalcy struggled to return to the area.
“After speaking with women in Sandeshkhali, it’s clear the situation is dire. Numerous women shared their harrowing experiences; one even reported being raped inside a TMC party office. We demand President’s Rule in Bengal, which we will also include in our report,” Sharma stated to PTI.
The demand for imposition of President’s Rule in West Bengal came days after the National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC) recommended the same in its report submitted to President Droupadi Murmu on alleged harassment of women by TMC supporters in Sandeshkhali.
“I think the Chief Minister should resign,” Sharma said while talking to reporters.
She accused the Mamata Banerjee government of attempting to suppress women’s voices to conceal the truth and emphasised the need for the arrest of Shajahan Sheikh, an absconding TMC leader allegedly involved in the atrocities, to encourage more women to come forward with complaints.
“I am in Sandeshkhali for the entire day to hear from women. But the culprit must be arrested. Once (Shajahan) Shiekh is arrested, I believe more women will come out with their complaints. We have to instil confidence in them. I will talk to the police,” Sharma told reporters soon after reaching the area.
Sharma’s visit comes after a two-member team of the commission took stock of the situation in the area last week and submitted a report.
The NCW chairperson alleged that neither the district magistrate nor the superintendent of police were present there to meet her.
“The administration and the police are not listening to complaints of women and they do not do anything. Only one woman has come out and registered her statement before a magistrate. We want more women to come in the front… Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has never allowed her officers to meet teams of central officers as she is trying to hide the truth. But the truth will come out,” Sharma said.
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