Kolkata:
West Bengal is ready to witness yet one more political showdown on the Sandeshkhali concern after BJP chief Suvendu Adhikari and CPM’s Brinda Karat have been stopped from visiting the island this morning. The Sandeshkhali island in North 24 Parganas district has made headlines following BJP’s allegations of sexual violence by Trinamool leaders and a number of accounts of girls alleging harassment and extortion.
Mr Adhikari, who’s Chief of Opposition in Bengal Meeting, was stopped at Dhamakhali earlier than he and his supporters may board a ferry to take them to the island. That is his third try to go to Sandeshkhali after the allegations towards Trinamool leaders raised a political storm.
By the way, the Calcutta Excessive Courtroom yesterday allowed Mr Adhikari and BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh to go to Sandeshkhali. It requested the BJP leaders to file an endeavor that they will not interact in any exercise that will result in deterioration of the legislation and order scenario. However this morning, police and riot management pressure personnel have been seen placing up barricades to cease the BJP chief and his supporters at Dhamakhali. Moreover, the native administration clamped prohibitory orders in Sandeshkhali and surrounding areas, barring public gatherings.
“I’ve a courtroom order. Even then, you’re stopping me. That is unlucky. I’ll await an hour. Then I’ll return to Kolkata and draw the excessive courtroom’s consideration to this. The Mamata Banerjee authorities and its police should not abiding by the Calcutta Excessive Courtroom’s order,” he mentioned.
Later, a division bench of the excessive courtroom this morning directed that Mr Adhikari and Mr Ghosh be allowed to go to the island. “We are going to direct that two of the writers petitioners shall be allowed to maneuver round, with no different supporters following them, solely safety, and abide by the situations imposed,” Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam mentioned.
Ms Karat was additionally stopped at Dhamakhali earlier than she may proceed to the island. BJP and CPM supporters are actually holding separate demonstrations in Dhamakhali.
“We got here right here to satisfy the ladies as a result of they referred to as us. They alleged that they have been assaulted by Trinamool goons. Once we reached right here, the police mentioned that peace can be disrupted. That is unacceptable,” Ms Karat advised information company ANI. Later, the CPM chief was additionally allowed to go forward.
The island is on the centre of a large political row after the BJP alleged that aides of native Trinamool strongman Sheikh Shahjahan sexually harassed girls. NDTV floor studies revealed allegations of land seize and extortion, as native residents accused Shahjahan’s aides of forcibly taking cash they obtained underneath central and state authorities’s welfare schemes.
Mr Shahjahan has been on the run for a month now after an Enforcement Directorate group conducting raids towards him in a corruption case was attacked by a mob. Two of his aides, Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra, have been arrested.
State police have mentioned a complete of 17 arrests have been made and camps have been arrange in Sandeshkhali to file the complaints of native residents.
The ruling Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of fomenting hassle on the island, with social gathering chief Mamata Banerjee saying that Sandeshkhali has an “RSS base” – suggesting the outfit’s function within the unrest.
