Even as the Trinamool Congress threatened to complain to the Election Commission about National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma for “misusing her chair and “being one of the major conspirators of the Sandeshkhali matter”, the NCW chief wrote to the poll panel head Rajeev Kumar highlighting the “alarming situation wherein women in West Bengal were being threatened into withdrawing their cases and providing false statements, creating an atmosphere of fear for women in Sandeshkhali”.
The National Commission for Women had recommended to President Droupadi Murmu that the President’s rule be imposed in West Bengal over alleged atrocities on women and violence in Sandeshkhali.
The Trinamool Congress alleged that the NCW chief Rekha Sharma had misused her chair and was one of the major conspirators in the Sandeshkhali matter after multiple women alleged that they were deceived by local BJP leaders into filling sexual assault complaints against Trinamool Congress leaders.
Stating the Trinamool Congress’s intention to move the poll panel against Sharma, West Bengal Minister and party spokesperson Shashi Panja alleged on Friday that the NCW chairperson acted with political bias over the Sandeshkhali allegations and encouraged women of the area to make false allegations of sexual atrocities.
Even as the Trinamool Congress made threatening noises, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma released her letter to the poll panel chief on social media which said: “It has come to the notice of the Commission that the women of Sandeshkhali are being compelled to withdraw their complaints by TMC workers as they are the ruling party in West Bengal. The TMC party workers are instilling fear among the women of Sandeshkhali to suppress victims from coming forward with their complaints, potentially impacting the fairness of the election process in the area”.
The Commission requested the Election Commission to look into the matter on priority and ensure that women are not compelled to withdraw their complaints due to the threat from Trinamool Congress workers. It urged the poll panel to direct the authorities to take appropriate measures.
“In recent developments surrounding the Sandeshkhali case, the National Commission for Women has noted that few women have suddenly taken their complaints back, which were lodged against Sandeshkhali accused and suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh,” the NCW said.
“The NCW finds this turn of statement deeply concerning, particularly amidst the backdrop of the general elections of 2024. It is important that the integrity of the electoral process is upheld and every citizen’s right to participate freely and without fear,” it stated.