Mamata Banerjee on Sandeshkhali incident: I will never allow any injustice to anyone

Breaking her silence on the Sandeshkhali violence, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday made it clear that she has "never supported injustice" while linking "RSS to the incident", adding that she "needs to know the matter to address the issues that will be reported".

“I have never allowed, will never allow any injustice to anyone,” Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in assembly on the Sandeshkhali incident. Mamata Banerjee further said in the assembly that the government has sent a state women's commission, and formed a police team for Sandeshkhali and till now  17 people have been arrested.

A "sinister design is at play" to foment trouble in the area and the state government has taken all necessary actions to control the situation, Banerjee said.

Amid the severe allegations of sexual harassment of women in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the RSS of inciting trouble in North 24 Parganas district.

"RSS has a base there. Riots took place there 7-8 years back. It is one of the vulnerable riot spots. We handled the situation strongly during Saraswati Puja or else there were other plans," the CM said.

Not mentioning the TMC leader's name who has been accused by women in Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district of sexually assaulting them, the West Bengal Chief Minister said, "First, they entered the area and targetedSheikh Shahjahan through the Enforcement Directorate, and then they started the trouble there by getting people in."

Speaking on the floor of the state assembly, Banerjee highlighted the measures and action taken by her government to bring justice in Sandeshkhali.

She said that 17 people have been arrested so far in connection with the case.

"I have never supported injustice. I sent the state commission and administration there. 17 people have been arrested so far...Our women's team is present there. A women police team is visiting people at their doorsteps to listen to their grievances."

Protests persisted in Sandeshkhali for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday, with a significant number of women taking to the streets, demanding the arrest of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his followers.

The accusations against Shajahan Sheikh and his aides include forcefully capturing land and sexually harassing women.

"It has come to light how BJP workers have been brought and violence was instigated in a planned manner. The primary target was Shahjahan Sheikh and ED entered the area targeting him," Banerjee said.

"Following this, they ousted everyone from there and fabricated an adivasis versus minorities fight," claimed Banerjee, also the TMC supremo.

She said the region has been a "vulnerable riot area" and the BJP has been trying to pitch the minorities against the Adivasis.