The retraction of rape complaints by a woman and her mother-in-law in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali has stirred controversy, with the women alleging that they were coerced into signing a "white paper" at the behest of the National Commission for Women (NCW). This development emerges amidst a backdrop of political tensions, with the BJP seizing upon the Sandeshkhali incident to target the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
The woman recounted how she and her mother-in-law were pressured into filing false rape complaints against TMC leaders without being informed of the contents of the complaint, allegedly under the influence of the "Delhi's Mahila Commission". Subsequently, they withdrew their complaints, citing threats and social ostracism.
According to the woman's account, they were visited by two individuals who escorted her mother-in-law to the police station, where she was purportedly coerced into signing a white paper. This paper, unbeknownst to them, allegedly contained false allegations of rape against local TMC leaders.
The retraction of the complaints underscores the complexity and sensitivity surrounding allegations of sexual violence in the context of political dynamics. The timing of these developments, amid ongoing electoral campaigns, has further politicized the issue, with the TMC and BJP trading accusations.
The TMC has announced its intention to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission against BJP leaders, alleging that a BJP worker had confessed on camera to fabricating the rape accusations in Sandeshkhali. This escalation reflects the heightened political stakes involved in the unfolding narrative of events in West Bengal.
