Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out against the BJP, calling the party "anti-Bengal" and accusing it of having "orchestrated a conspiracy to defame our state at every possible level".
Banrjee's comments came in reaction to a purported sting operation video released by the Trinamool Congress on Sandeshkhali incident showing whatever happened there was "orchestrated" allegedly by West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.
Banerjee said it showed how deep the "rot" is within the BJP.
Taking to X, Banerjee said, "The shocking Sandeshkhali sting shows how deep the rot is within the BJP. In their hatred for Bengal's progressive thought & culture, the Bangla-Birodhis orchestrated a conspiracy to defame our state at every possible level. "
Banerjee alleged that never before in the history of India has a ruling party in Delhi tried to malign an entire state and its people and prophesied that history would be witness to the way "Bengal will rise in rage against Delhi's conspiratorial regime and ensure their "Bishorjon (Immersion)".
"Today, the curtains have been pulled back, revealing BJP's sinister plot to smear Bengal's image with their fabricated tales on Sandeshkhali, " the Chief Minister said.
Sandeshkhali, an island in the Sundarban region and part of the North 24 Parganas district, grabbed the national spotlight earlier this year after Enforcement Directorate officers were roughed up in the area. Later, allegations of the involvement of Trinamool Congress leaders in the sexual exploitation of women and forcible grabbing of land emerged.
However, with the sting operation claiming that the entire chain of episodes that shocked the nation was "stagemanaged" by Adhikari and other BJP leaders, Banerjee hit back.
"In their pursuit of power, they've sold off the dignity of our mothers and sisters! Rest assured, Bangla-birodhi BJP's treachery will be met with the full force of the people's wrath," Banerjee said.
"A viral video today exposed how the BJP left no stone unturned to malign Bengal, " said the Trinamool Congress on X.
"From "mass rape" to "arms seizure," every claim was BOUGHT and STAGED by none other than Suvendu. People won't forgive these Bangla-Birodhis. Bengal's mothers & sisters shall avenge this, " the party posted.
The Trinamool alleged that Adhikari created a false narrative of mass rapes by paying money to local people to defame Bengal and Sandeshkhli.
The party also questioned why Adhikari frequently visited Sandeshkhali, and alleged that it was to pump cash and arms into Sandeshkhali, greasing the palms of co-conspirators like Gangadhar Koyal.
The BJP, however, questioned the reliability of the video and pointed out that women of Sandeshkhali have spoken of their ordeal on affidavit.
"To hide and suppress the sin committed in Sandeshkhali, Mamata Banerjee is doing all this. A video has surfaced but will you trust it or the women speaking about it through affidavit? Mamata Banerjee should have gone & talked to the women of Sandeskhali...This is just propaganda to suppress it..."
