Delegations from the BJP and Congress were stopped from visiting the village of Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, where there are allegations of harassment by supporters of a Trinamool Congress leader.
The BJP team, led by a Union minister, was blocked for the third time from conducting a fact-finding mission. The party claims that women in the village were sexually harassed, but the Trinamool Congress denies the allegations.
The Congress delegation, led by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, was also prevented from reaching Sandeshkhali. The situation has raised concerns about the political alliances in India, especially as the Trinamool Congress plans to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently.
The BJP delegation, appointed by party President JP Nadda, includes six MPs, including two Union ministers. They met with West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to inform him of the situation. The BJP alleges that the ruling party is preventing complaints from being filed regarding the alleged harassment in the village.
The Congress delegation, led by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, faced two obstacles on its way to Sandeshkhali due to prohibitory orders in the area. Chowdhury accused the Bengal chief minister of cruelty and criticized her for not addressing the situation earlier.
The Trinamool Congress leader, Sheikh Shahjahan, accused by the BJP of wrongdoing, has been on the run since an Enforcement Directorate raid on his house. Some women in the village have accused Shahjahan’s aides of harassment, leading to the arrest of one individual, while another remains sought by the police.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the BJP for the situation, alleging an RSS base in Sandeshkhali and asserting that her government took immediate action by arresting 17 people. The political tensions surrounding these events have wider implications for the upcoming elections in the region.