The West Bengal BJP unit on Monday took on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the Sandeshkhali issue and alleged that "TMC-linked goons" were "hunting down" Hindu women and sexually assaulting them.
Addressing a press conference, BJP MP Locket Chatterjee claimed that houses of women, who alleged sexual assault by local TMC leaders, were being looted after giving news interviews.
"Mamata Banerjee has not given a single statement till now. Shahjahan Sheikh is still absconding. The police are not able to track him down. Mamata Banerjee said no FIR has been filed. Why? Because the police did not file any case. The police administration has become TMC's office," she claimed.
Chatterjee claimed that Banerjee did not speak about the incident and alleged that crimes against women were increasing under her rule.
"They want those 30 per cent of votes. They are hunting down Hindu women and assaulting them. We have heard about atrocities against women in Pakistan. The same thing is happening in West Bengal and Mamata Banerjee is silent. She is saying that the RSS is behind this (Sandeshkhali incident)," she alleged.
"Women who were sexually assaulted gave news interviews. They had covered their faces. They said don't show our faces or else we will be attacked again. People are coming in police uniforms and looting their houses," she added.
The BJP leader alleged that women in West Bengal were the "most unsafe" in the country.
"These women voted for you (Mamata Banerjee) in 2011. They were unsafe during the Left government's 34-year rule. And now, women are the most unsafe in a state where a woman is the Chief Minister," the BJP leader said.
Earlier on Sunday, Banerjee attacked the BJP over the controversy surrounding the Sandeshkhali issue wherein some TMC leaders were accused of sexual assault against women and land grabbing. She said the incident was "made to happen" and said the party was making a "mountain of a molehill".
Speaking at an event in Birbhum, Banerjee said, "One incident happened. It was made to happen. First, the ED went. Then its friend, the BJP, went there. Some media went along and they are making a mountain out of a molehill. They are trying to disrupt peace here and starting a fire."
Banerjee said she was sending officers to Sandeshkhali to address the allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing by TMC leaders. She said if anyone's land was taken, it would be returned.
have never supported injustice. No woman has filed an FIR. I told the police to register a case. Our block president was arrested. How many BJP leaders have been arrested in such cases?"
Banerjee's comments came after TMC leader Shiba Prasad Hajra, one of the prime accused in a case of alleged land grab and sexual harassment of women in Sandeshkhali, was remanded in police custody for eight days by a court in North 24 Parganas district on Sunday.
A large number of women in Sandeshkhali accused Sheikh and his supporters of "land grab and sexually assaulting" them under coercion.
Sheikh has been absconding after a mob, allegedly affiliated with him, attacked Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials who had gone to search his premises in connection with a ration scam on January 5.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma is in Sandeshkhali where she will meet women who were allegedly sexually assaulted by TMC leaders.
Sharma is also expected to meet West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose.
