May 12th 2024.
A video recently surfaced from Sandeshkhali, where a local BJP leader was caught on camera claiming that 70 women were paid Rs 2,000 each to participate in protests against Shahjahan Sheikh and his supporters from the TMC, who were accused of sexual assault and land grabbing. The man in the video, who bears a resemblance to the mandal president Gangadhar Kayal, made these statements in response to a question posed to him. This is not the first time Kayal has been caught on camera, as there have been previous videos released in the past week where he has made controversial statements, including claiming that the accusations of rape were fabricated.
It should be noted that the authenticity of these videos has not been independently verified by PTI. However, in the latest video that emerged on Saturday night, Kayal can be heard saying that 70 women were paid for their participation in the protests against Sheikh, who was arrested and suspended by the police. He also mentioned that they needed a significant amount of cash to keep the SC, ST, and OBC communities satisfied and to ensure their support. Kayal also stated that women would be at the forefront of these protests, confronting the police.
Despite attempts, Kayal could not be reached for comments. The BJP, on the other hand, has denied the authenticity of these videos, calling them fake. TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta stated that these videos only further reveal the truth behind the BJP's false narrative on Sandeshkhali.
In the past few days, multiple videos have surfaced, featuring women from Sandeshkhali, which have been shared by the TMC. In the first video, released on May 4th, Kayal can be heard claiming that the protests were staged at the direction of Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, who was responsible for the entire conspiracy. The second video featured women who had previously filed rape complaints, stating that they were coerced by BJP leaders into signing blank papers and were forced to go to the police station.
Another video featured BJP candidate Rekha Patra, who claimed that she did not know the rape survivors who were taken to Delhi to meet the President. The TMC has already taken action against National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma for allegedly influencing these women to file false rape complaints against TMC leaders.
Samik Bhattacharya, the BJP state spokesperson, has accused the TMC of using fake videos to change the narrative ahead of the polls and has stated that the TMC has no respect for the National Commission for Women or the dignity of the women of Sandeshkhali. Bhattacharya has also claimed that all the videos released by the TMC are doctored and fake.
The Sandeshkhali area, situated on the borders of the Sundarbans, has been a hotbed of protests since February, with allegations of sexual abuse and land grabbing against now arrested TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters. The situation remains tense, and the release of these videos has only added fuel to the fire. PTI continues to investigate the authenticity of these videos to uncover the truth behind the allegations.
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