Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mar 6: For the third consecutive time, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday concentrated his attack on the Trinamool Congress on the Sandeshkhali incident asserting that the “storm of Sandeshkhali” would echo throughout West Bengal, where ‘Nari Shakti‘ (woman power) would play a pivotal role in decimating the ruling party in the Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing a rally in Barasat, the headquarters of North 24 Parganas district, where Sandeshkhali is located, Mr Modi said whatever happened with women in the area “is a matter of shame.” He also met a group of women from Sandeshkhali, shortly after the rally in Barasat.
The riverine island of Sandeshkhali has been on the boil over allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing by suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his cohorts.
The Prime Minister had attacked the TMC on the Sandeshkhali issue at all the rallies during his two-day visit to the state last weekend, a rarity for Mr Modi.
“Women in West Bengal are outraged and the storm that started in Sandeshkhali will not remain restricted to the island but reach every corner of West Bengal,” Mr Modi said. Firing barbs at the Mamata Banerjee government over what has emerged as the biggest talking point in Bengal politics, the Prime Minister said the Bengal government was using all its might to save the “oppressor of women” – an apparent reference to Sandeshkhali strongman Sheikh Shahjahan. Switching to Bengali, the Prime Minister gave the BJP’s war cry, “Ei baar, 400 paar, NDA sarkar, 400 paar.”
He accused the TMC government of prioritising appeasement politics over ensuring the safety of women in the State. “TMC leaders are committing atrocities against sisters and daughters of poor, Dalit and tribal families at various places. The women of Bengal and the country are incensed. This storm of Sandeshkhali will reach every part of West Bengal, and decimate the TMC across the state,” Mr Modi said.
The PM highlighted the historical significance of West Bengal as a beacon of women’s empowerment, lamenting that under the TMC rule, the state has witnessed “grave atrocities” against women.
“The land of Bengal has been a source of inspiration for women’s power. But on this very land, women have been subjected to atrocities under the TMC rule. Whatever has happened in Sandeshkhali will lower anybody’s head in shame. But, the TMC government here does not care about the sorrows of women,” he said.
Alleging that the TMC was shielding criminals, Mr Modi said that despite legal intervention, the State authorities resisted the arrest of those responsible for the Sandeshkhali incidents. “The TMC used all its power to protect the criminals. However, the state government suffered a setback, first from the high court and then from the Supreme Court,” he said.
Hitting out at the TMC for acting at the behest of touts and playing appeasement politics, Mr Modi said, “The TMC government, working under the pressure of touts, can never provide security to sisters and daughters. On the other hand, there is the BJP-led central government, which has made provisions for even death penalty in case of serious crimes like rape.”
The Prime Minister also slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led party for its failure to implement central initiatives such as a women’s helpline, designed to aid them in distress. “We had created this helpline so that our sisters can easily complain in times of crisis. However, the TMC government is not allowing this system to be implemented here. Such an anti-women government can never do any good for women,” he said.
He described the TMC as a hindrance to Bengal’s development and urged the electorate to reject the opposition bloc INDIA and vote in favour of the BJP. “Bengal is faced with an eclipse called TMC. Therefore, all of you, the sisters and mothers, have to defeat the opposition alliance and make the lotus bloom in every corner of the country,” the Prime Minister said.
Mr Modi also asserted that 140 crore Indians are “my family”, as he mounted a counter-offensive over the “no family” jibe at him by leaders of the opposition alliance.
“Sensing the return of the NDA (after the Lok Sabha polls), all the leaders of INDI alliance are nervous. They have started hurling abuses at me now. These corrupt leaders of the block are asking about my family, claiming that Modi does not have his own family, this is because I speak against dynasty politics and nepotism,” he said.
The PM’s comments come in the backdrop of a remark by RJD supremo Lalu Prasad during a recent grand alliance rally in Patna, where he questioned Mr Modi’s familial background and criticised him for not adhering to traditional Hindu customs.
“The entire country is my family, 140 crore Indians are my family. Every ounce of Modi’s body and every moment of his life is dedicated to this family. When I face any problem, these mothers, sisters and daughters stand as a shield,” he asserted.
The Prime Minister also met a group of women from Sandeshkhali, shortly after the rally in Barasat. Mr Modi met five women who charged suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his followers with sexually harassing them. He described the women who have been protesting against the alleged atrocities as ‘Maa Durga’.
BJP sources said the women turned emotional while narrating their ordeal to the PM, who heard them patiently “like a father figure.” “We requested him to ensure that we get justice since we no longer have faith in the state administration. The PM, despite his busy schedule, heard us patiently. We are hopeful of getting justice,” a female Sandeshkhali resident said.
Shortly after the Prime Minister’s address, the Trinamool Congress hit back. Leading the charge, party MP Derek O’Brien said the Prime Minister has no right to lecture on women’s security as a BJP leader was accused of sexually harassing wrestlers. “Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lectured on Nari Shakti. Three questions to you, Sir – Why are there 51 cases of crimes against women every hour? Why does BJP have 13 per cent women in Lok Sabha, why only 14 per cent women in 195 candidate list?” Mr O’Brien said in a post on his X handle. “Why no action against BJP MP charged with sexually harassing wrestlers?” he added.
The Trinamool leader was referring to BJP MP and former wrestling boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who some top wrestlers had accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers. The BJP MP has trashed the allegations and neither the police nor the party had taken any action against him.
Reacting to the PM’s allegations, senior TMC leader Sushmita Dev claimed that the BJP’s performance has been dismal in terms of women’s security and empowerment. “You (Modi) speak of women’s safety, yet female wrestlers from Haryana were subjected to violence by Delhi Police while protesting at Jantar Mantar. Where was your women’s helpline then?” she said. Accusing Mr Modi of “double standards”, she added: “Your eloquent speeches are farcical. Your true stance against women is evident throughout India.”
Wondering if PM Modi has the moral right to speak on the steps taken by his government against rapists, Ms Dev said, “BJP leaders and workers had felicitated rapists of Bilkis Bano.” The 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano case of Gujarat were released and they were welcomed by BJP leaders with garlands in 2023. The Supreme Court on January 8 this year, however, quashed the Gujarat government’s decision to grant remission to those convicts.
West Bengal minister and senior TMC leader Shashi Panja said, “PM Modi has no right to invoke the name of Maa Sarada and Nari Shakti in his speech, going by the track record of his party leaders who had ridiculed a revered personality like Maa Sarada in a meme.” He should hold the mirror to himself first, she added.
