BJP orchestrated the Sandeshkhali incident to defame Bengal: TMC

West Bengal news | TMC releases video claiming BJP conspiracy to defame West Bengal amid Sandeshkhali sexual abuse allegations.

Amid the row over incidents in Sandeshkhali where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have surfaced, the TMC released a video on social media, claiming that the episode was a "conspiracy" by the BJP to defame West Bengal ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

In the purported video, a man, who claimed to be a BJP mandal president in Sandeshkhali, was heard saying that Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, “is behind the whole conspiracy”.

The man alleged in the video that Mr. Adhikari had asked him and other BJP leaders of the area to "instigate three-four local women to level allegations of rape against three TMC leaders, including Shahjahan Sheikh". PTI did not verify the authenticity of the video posted by the TMC.

The man was also heard saying that Nandigram MLA "Adhikari himself had planted guns at a house in Sandeshkhali, which was later shown as the seizure by central agencies".

In a post titled ‘Big expose on Sandeshkhali' on X, the TMC said, Mr. Adhikari created a “false narrative of mass rapes by paying money to local people to defame Bengal and Sandeshkhli". The party also alleged that the "viral video exposed how the BJP left no stone unturned to malign Bengal. From 'mass rape' to 'arms seizure', every claim was bought and staged by none other than @SuvenduWB."

Mr. Adhikari could not be contacted for his comment.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the "shocking Sandeshkhali sting shows how deep the rot is within the BJP". "In their hatred for Bengal's progressive thought and culture, the 'Bangla-Birodhis' orchestrated a conspiracy to defame our State on every possible level," she said.