TMC highlights video, says Sandeshkhali BJP plot to defame Bengal
Party, CM cite purported video, which shows person naming Suvendu Adhikari as being ‘behind the whole conspiracy’, to attack principal Oppn. party; man in video says voice tampered with
fresh row has erupted after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) released a video on social media claiming that the alleged incidents of sexual assault at Sandeshkhali were a “conspiracy” by the Bharatiya Janata Party to defame West Bengal ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
The video, highlighted by the Trinamool leadership on Saturday, shows a person, Gangadhar Koyal – whom the State’s ruling party claims is a BJP local unit president in Sandeshkhali – saying “Suvendu Adhikari [Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly] is behind the whole conspiracy”.
“History will witness how Bengal will rise in rage against Delhi’s conspiratorial regime and ensure their bishorjon [immersion],” said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, highlighting the video during
Acampaigning on Saturday.
“Today, the curtains have been pulled back, revealing BJP’s sinister plot to smear Bengal’s image with their fabricated tales on Sandeshkhali. In their pursuit of power, they’ve sold o the dignity of our mothers and sisters! Rest assured, Bangla- birodhi BJP’s treachery will be met with the full force of the people’s wrath,” Trinamool posted on X from its o¡cial handle. Party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also held a press conference on the issue.
Sandeshkhali has been at the centre of the campaign of the Opposition parties in Bengal, especially the BJP, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi blaming the Trinamool on several occasions for the reports of sexual assault.
Later in the day, Mr. Adhikari posted a video where Mr. Koyal said his voice was tampered with in the video.
Raj Bhavan case
Meanwhile, Kolkata Police has constituted an inquiry team to probe a woman employee’s allegation of sexual molestation by Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, a senior o¡cer said on Saturday.
The team, as part of its investigation, will speak to witnesses over the next few days and has requested Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage, the o¡cer said.
Under Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted against a Governor during his term in o¡ce.
“We have to investigate any complaint lodged by anybody. This is a regular practice and we are just following that. And if needed, we may visit the spot (Raj Bhavan),” the o¡cer said.
Raj Bhavan has already issued a statement saying that Mr. Bose has ordered a ban on the entry of cops “in the guise of conducting unauthorised, illegitimate, sham and motivated investigations to placate political bosses during the election”.
(With inputs from PTI)