Abhishek Banerjee on Friday said the BJP’s alleged conspiracy to defame Bengal through the Sandeshkhali issue was one of post-Independence India’s “darkest moments” and similar to the 2019 Pulwama attack which the saffron camp had used to seek votes.

The Diamond Harbour MP said he had asked chief minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure that the state government approached the Supreme Court with “evidence” that suggested Sandeshkhali as a poll plank was largely a creation of the BJP.

“The BJP’s Sandeshkhali conspiracy to malign Bengal marks one of post Independence India’s darkest moments. Everyone has heard of the Godhra riots,” said Abhishek after filing his nominations in Calcutta as the Trinamool Congress’s Diamond Harbour candidate.

The Trinamool national general secretary was referring to a case of arson on a running train that triggered the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the western state’s chief minister.

“Satya Pal Malik revealed how the BJP failed to act during the Pulwama attack for political benefits. Malik had said the BJP-led Centre had intelligence inputs on the attack but did nothing. After sacrificing 40 jawans, Narendra Modi asked for votes in their names,” he added, referring to the former Jammu and Kashmir governor’s claim that Modi had shut him up when he had blamed the Centre’s lapses for the massacre of 40 CRPF personnel in the Pulwama terror attack of 2019.

“We had heard of Godhra and Pulwama, but now we have seen Sandeshkhali with our own eyes.”

Abhishek’s statement came a day after the wide circulation of a video that purportedly shows the “face” of the Sandeshkhali protests, now the BJP’s Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra, and an aide Piyali “Mampi” Das, questioning the credibility of some of the alleged victims who had met President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi on March 15.

Earlier, a “sting” video appeared to show the BJP’s Sandeshkhali mandal chief Gangadhar Koyal saying women there had been given Rs 2,000 each to file rape and sexual abuse complaints under instructions of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

This newspaper has not independently verified the authenticity of either video.

“Just for a handful of votes, the BJP sold off the dignity of our women and maligned Bengal and its 10-plus crore people before the nation, in exchange for Rs 2,000 per head,” said Mamata’s nephew.

“Rekha Patra, who is the BJP candidate and had spoken to the Prime Minister over the phone… she was seen (in the video) saying that false complainants were taken to meet the President. Who are these people?” he asked. “Rekha Patra was accused of filing a complaint in exchange for Rs 2,000 by Koyal.”

The Diamond Harbour MP questioned the BJP’s inertia days after the Koyal video went viral.

“Multiple women are stepping forward and stating that the BJP workers had coerced and deceived them into signing a white paper for the fake rape complaints. Allegations have been raised against the National Commission for Women and the SC/ST Commission,” he said. “Startling facts are coming to light.”

He also said Trinamool would file a complaint against NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma with the Election Commission, accusing her of being one of the major conspirators.

Later in the day, the NCW issued a letter sent by Sharma to the Election Commission, asking it to direct its officials to take appropriate action against Trinamool workers for allegedly threatening the women of Sandeshkhali to withdraw their complaints.

Abhishek warned the saffron regime that the Trinamool dispensation wouldn’t let this pass and he had asked Mamata to ensure the state government approached the apex court.

“This will go much further. I have urged our chairperson (Mamata) to see to it that the state government submits the footage to the Supreme Court, with all details,” said the MP.

Earlier in the day, police in Sandeshkhali started a separate probe against BJP activist Das, the aide to BJP candidate Patra, based on a complaint lodged by an elderly woman. Das has been accused of criminal conspiracy and intimidation.

Basirhat police district chief Hossain Mehedi Rehman said: “We have received a complaint against Rekha Patra in connection with the viral video and she has been accused of trying to mould the election process, among other allegations.”

“A complaint was also received against Suvendu Adhikari for a probe. But in his case, we need Calcutta High Court’s permission. The probe against Patra has already begun,” he added.

At the high court, a lawyer appeared on behalf of Koyal to file a petition praying for protection by central forces as the BJP mandal chief was apprehending attacks after a “fake” video footage — allegedly with him in it — was circulated. Justice Jay Sengupta is likely to hear the case on Monday.

Additional reporting by Subhasish
Chaudhuri and Tapas Ghosh