Kolkata: The Sandeshkhali row refuses to die in election season.
In a fresh twist, a woman has alleged that she was made to sign a blank paper by people linked with the BJP who wrote a false rape complaint in her name.
The Sandeshkhali resident told mediapersons said that a woman identifying herself as Piyali called them to share their complaints on the day a team of National Commission for Women visited the North 24 island in West Bengal.
“I told them that we had not received money as part of the 100 days’ job scheme. I only wanted that money and had no other complaint. There was no rape. She (Piyali) made us sign on a blank sheet,” the woman said.
She claimed that she came to know later being on the list of women who had alleged rape by local Trinamool leaders including the arrested Sheikh Shahjahan.
The woman’s daughters-in-law accused Piyali of defaming Sandeshkhali.
“She is an outsider, she has come from somewhere else and talks big. We don’t know how she has information about everyone here. Initially, she would just take part in the protests here. We later came to know she is with the BJP. She should be punished for lying to us and trapping us. I’m sure more people were deceived like this,” they said.
The woman further said she and her family are receiving threats for speaking out against Piyali.
Last week, a video of local BJP leader Gangadhar Koyal purportedly admitting no rape or sexual harassment had taken place in Sandeshkhali and that women were convinced to file such complaints under state leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s instructions did the rounds.
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), which had been under fire following complaints of rape, land grab and extortion, has hit back at BJP.
“BJP is threatening the courageous women of Sandeshkhali for daring to speak out against them,” said TMC MP Sushmita Dev. “How much longer will this party persist in spinning webs of deceit, shamelessly trampling on the dignity of our mothers and sisters for their own political greed?”
TMC has registered a complaint with Election Commission of India against some BJP leaders, including Adhikari, accusing them of levelling fabricated allegations.
BJP responded by saying TMC was trying damage-control exercise which has come too late.
“Why is Trinamool responding now? Why were they quiet for two-three months? They earlier said the women (of Sandeshkhali) were lying, now they are saying they were made to lie. Whatever damage had to happen has happened. There is no smoke without fire,” BJP spokesperson Priyanka Tibrewal said.
The Trinamool Congress has now registered a complaint with the Election Commission against several BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, accusing them of levelling fabricated allegations in the Sandeshkhali matter.
