"I will go there tomorrow and meet families of victims": Suvendu Adhikari on visiting Sandeshkhali

Feb 19, 2024

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 19 : Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Legislative Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said that he would visit the violence-hit Sandeshkhali on Tuesday and meet the families of victims.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said, "The permission was given on February 12 also but they imposed Section 144. Today I received a specific order and I will go there tomorrow and meet the families of the victims. Many BJP workers have been arrested, I will meet the family members of victims as well as BJP workers who have been arrested. We have been trying since February 10 to meet them and we are hopeful that tomorrow it will happen."
The BJP leader also alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee is causing hindrance in meeting the protesters, many of them women, who accused the three men of land grabbing and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali.
"Mamata Banerjee will lose the Lok Sabha elections and that is why she is doing all this. She has not done any development work...They will not arrest (Sheikh Shahjahan) because they need goons during elections and they have given him protection...," said Adhikari.
West Bengal's Sandeshkhali area has been witnessing massive unrest for over 10 days as women protestors are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan and his aides.
Trinamool Congress leader and one of the associates of TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh, Shibu Hazra, who was arrested earlier in connection with the Sandeshkhali violence issue, was sent to police custody for eight days on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Adhikari also said that the allegations that Aadhaar cards have been deactivated by the centre are baseless.
"Mamata Banerjee is trying to suppress the Hindu refugees who have come from Bangladesh on religious grounds. Mamata Banerjee is worried that she will lose the Lok Sabha elections and that is why she is doing all this. I want action on the Sandeshkhali incident," he said.
He further said that CAA would be implemented, which has been noted by the Home Minister. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Citizenship Amendment Act, which was passed by the Parliament in December 2019, will be notified and implemented before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
"Mamata Banerjee has not done anything for the Muslim community. She has only created goons and distributed money to them, like Sheikh Shahjahan and Bakibur Rahaman. PM Modi has done real development work. When Aadhaar cards are not deactivated, then how can new cards be issued? This is being done to harass the Matua refugees from Bangladesh. They will not arrest (Sheikh Shahjahan) because they need goons during elections and they have given him protection," he added.
Earlier, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that the state government would give a separate card to those whose Aadhaar cards had been deactivated.
Banerjee said, "Those who are playing with the Aadhaar cards and trying to deprive people of their rights, people will throw them out of power. We will issue a separate card that will help to protect the citizen's rights. We have prepared a portal named 'Aadhaar Grievance Portal of West Bengal Government'. Those whose Aadhaar card has been deactivated should inform us as soon as possible so that they continue to enjoy their democratic, social and economic rights."