Sandeshkhali is a local issue, not like Nandigram or Singur, says Mamata
The government has returned land to victims of land grab at Sandeshkhali, says CM; attacks BJP for making Cooch Behar MP a Minister despite pending cases, allegations of murder, smuggling
acing relentless criticism over Sandeshkhali violence and allegations of sexual assault on women in the area, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee insisted that the situation was a “local issue” which the administration has resolved, emphasising the differences from the previous agitations at Singur and Nandigram.
Addressing a public gathering in Cooch Behar district on Friday, Ms. Banerjee said the State government has also returned land to those people from whom it was taken away at Sandeshkhali.
The unrest at Sandeshkhali, an island in the State’s North 24 Parganas where the local residents have held protests against the Trinamool Congress lead
Fers, has embarrassed the government, especially as it has emerged as an election issue.
The agitation against forcible land acquisition at Singur and Nandigram had catapulted the Trinamool Congress to power in the State in 2011.
Ms. Banerjee’s comments came a day after
Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue while campaigning in Cooch Behar. “The whole of Bengal, the whole country has seen how the TMC government used all its strength to save the culprits of Sandeshkhali,” Mr. Modi had said.
Ms. Banerjee said her government has put leaders of her own party behind bars, including Arabul Islam and Sheikh Shahjahan, the prime accused in the Sandeshkhali violence.
Mr. Shahjahan was arrested by the State police on February 29 and is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate.
However, the “Bharatiya Janata Party awards those who face allegations of illegal activities”, such as the BJP’s Cooch Behar candidate and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nisith Pramanik, she said.
“I can arrest our workers. Arabul (Islam), (Sheikh) Shahjahan can be arrested. How is a goon a Central Minister?” Ms. Banerjee said.
“He is involved in smuggling, there are allegations of murder, manufacturing of crude bombs against him. I have all the details of cases,” she said.