New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday targeted the Opposition for remaining silent on atrocities committed against women in West Bengal, be it the Sandeshkhali episode or the flogging of a woman last week in Uttar Dinajpur.
Speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in Rajya Sabha, Modi questioned the Opposition’s “selective” outrage. “The Opposition’s selective attitude towards atrocities against women is very worrying. I have seen a video from Bengal on social media where a woman was being beaten publicly. That sister is screaming, videos were being shot but no one intervened,” Modi said in the Upper House.
He was referring to the incident of a woman being beaten, allegedly by a local Trinamool Congress leader over an extra-marital affair. “Those who see themselves as progressive female leaders are tongue-tied,” Modi added.
On Sunday, a video of a woman and a man being flogged had gone viral on social media. The aggressor in the video, identified as TMC’s Tajmul alias ‘JCB’, was seen beating the woman with a bamboo stick.
The BJP claimed Tajmul was closely associated with TMC MLA Hamidul Islam. According to the police, the couple was punished under the direction of a kangaroo court due to their alleged relationship. Tajmul was arrested on 30 June and, after being presented before a local court, remanded to five days of police custody.
The Prime Minister also raised the Sandeshkhali controversy and questioned the opposition leaders’ silence on the issue. “What happened in Sandeshkhali was gruesome. I have been listening to all these big leaders (opposition leaders) since yesterday but not an ounce of pain can be found in their words. Even those who see themselves as progressive female leaders are tongue-tied because their politics is aligned with the ruling party of the state. Their silence hurts the women of our country,” Modi said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has not yet commented on the incident in which local Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan is accused of sexual assault and land-grab. However, senior Trinamool Congress leader Shantanu Sen said the state government was taking measures to address the situation.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)