On Thursday (7th March), ‘journalist’ turned politician Sagarika Ghose faced backlash for attempting to downplay the serious situation in Sandeshkhali village in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Ghose referred to the unrest as a mere ‘local land dispute’ in a tweet after participating in a rally led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She highlighted the participation of women from Sandeshkhali and praised the Trinamool Congress party.
However, Ghose’s remarks disregarded the harrowing tales of sexual violence and exploitation revealed by women from Sandeshkhali at the hands of TMC leaders. While the issue involved illegal land grabbing by TMC members, the crux of the matter was the safety of women and the threats of gang rape they faced. Despite the testimonies of victims, Ghose minimized the situation as a ‘local land dispute’ and accused outsiders of politicizing the matter.
The use of the term ‘outsiders’ to refer to the Opposition BJP in West Bengal mirrors a strategy employed by Mamata Banerjee to shift blame and create fear among the Bengali community. Ghose’s stance aligned with the TMC’s narrative, diverting attention from the atrocities committed against women in Sandeshkhali.
In a separate incident on Wednesday (6th March), Ghose launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticizing his party’s record on women’s issues. She omitted crucial details surrounding the arrest of the main accused in the Sandeshkhali case, while urging Modi to learn from the ‘Bengal model of female empowerment’.
Ghose’s attempts to downplay the plight of women in Sandeshkhali and her political rhetoric have sparked criticism and highlighted the need for accurate representation of the ongoing crisis in the region.
Image Source: Opindia
