NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to visit Sandeshkhali on December 30, the first since massive and violent protests in the region amid sexual harassment accusations against TMC leaders.
Mamata will attend a public distribution program on the island, which is located in the northern district of 24 Parganas, bordering the Sundarbans.
Banerjee confirmed the visit at the state secretariat. “I will visit Sandeshkhali on December 30 to attend a public distribution programme. Before the elections people asked me whether I would visit Sandeshkhali or not. “I had told them I would come later,” he said.
The show will focus on government schemes like ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ and ‘Banglar Bari’. The CM said approximately 20,000 residents will benefit. “This will be a government program. We have completed several pending programs under ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’, ‘Banglar Bari’ and other schemes. Around 20,000 beneficiaries in the area will benefit from various state plans. I hope to present certificates of various programs to around 100 people from the stage,” Banerjee added.
Sandeshkhali had been the scene of large protests centered on reported atrocities against them by TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his aides.
In February this year, several women alleged that Sheikh and his “gang” forcibly captured tracts of land, in addition to sexually harassing women in the area.