“Don’t speak about women’s safety; sold women’s dignity for Rs 2000:” WB Minister Shashi Panja

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 12 (ANI): West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja slammed former National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma on Monday, saying that she should be the last one to speak on the safety of women and accused her that during her tenure as the NCW chief, she was biassed against opposition ruled states and turned a blind eye to crimes committed in BJP-ruled states.

Speaking on the former NCW chief’s visit to the Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal, Panja said, “Rekha Sharma, you had been the chairperson of the National Women Commission but it’s better that you don’t speak about women’s safety. We have witnessed that you have turned a blind eye to any crime against women in BJP-ruled states but you maligned opposition ruled states for the same. But Manipur never had your focus.”

She further stated that Sharma had harassed all the opposition states and hadn’t let the administration do their work. Panja further accused Sharma that she was a part of the conspiracy created by the BJP in the Sandeshkhali incident.

“You have harassed all the states that aren’t ruled by the BJP and didn’t let the administration to work and it’s better that you don’t speak Bengal because you came to Sandeskhali and you also have a part in the conspiracy created by the BJP there,” Panja said.

She further accused Sharma of helping the BJP destroy women’s dignity and selling them for Rs 2000 to make her bosses happy.

“The way a woman’s dignity was destroyed and it was sold for Rs 2000–all these were done by BJP and to keep your bosses happy, you also helped them so it’s better that you don’t speak on women’s safety,” she added.

In February this year, Rekha Sharma visited Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, which was under political turmoil after multiple women in the island accused Shajahan and his aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion.

During her visit to the place, Sharma demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

On August 6, Rekha Sharma, stepped down as the chairperson of the NCW, marking the end of her nine-year tenure.