Hours after a purported video surfaced featuring a BJP leader alleging women in Sandeshkhali filed sexual harassment complaints at the behest of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharply retorted her stand, alleging that the BJP had orchestrated the incidents in the region.
In a message posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the West Bengal Chief Minister accused the BJP of orchestrating the Sandeshkhali incident to tarnish the image of Bengal. She said, "The sting operation revealed the true face of the Bangla-Birodhis as they attempted to manipulate the emotions of my mothers and sisters. On May 13th, the people of Ranaghat shall ensure that the Bangla-Birodhis are ousted from Bengal."
Earlier, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, in a video message, alleged Adhikari's role in the incident, calling him the mastermind of the conspiracy. Banerjee stated, "Suvendu Adhikari masterminded a huge conspiracy by manipulating the people of Sandeshkhali to lodge fake complaints. His attempts to malign the image of Bengal will not be forgiven by the people."
"BJP is caught in a web of their own lies! This morning, BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya disowned Gangadhar Kayal as a party leader. Later, Suvendu Adhikari posted a testimonial of the very same individual claiming to be BJP's Mandal President. Promaan kore diyeche Sandeshkhali, BJP dol'ta purotai jaali," Abhishek Banerjee added.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari denied the allegations, calling the video a “TMC conspiracy”. The state unit of BJP also released a video featuring the same BJP leader from the TMC clip, where he alleged that his voice had been “tampered with”. Posting the video link, the BJP West Bengal unit said, "Though falsehood may dance around for a while, truth's steady march endures. As the saying goes, 'Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away.' Remember that, Koyla Bhaipo."
Further, former BJP state president and the party candidate from Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency, Dilip Ghosh, too stated that the alleged "sting video will not have any impact" on the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal. He emphasized, "It was not the BJP but the common people of Sandeshkhali who protested in the streets against atrocities on women by local TMC leaders."
