West Bengal BJP leader Sabyasachi Ghosh was arrested on Friday for allegedly running a prostitution racket in Howrah. This comes against the backdrop of the BJP going hammer-and-tongs after the ruling Trinamool Congress over Sandeshkhali, where several women have accused TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides of sexual exploitation.
Stepping up the attack on the BJP, the TMC alleged that Bengal Police busted a prostitution racket that was operating in Sabyasachi Ghosh's hotel in Howrah. The Mamata Banerjee-led party accused the BJP of "protecting pimps" and not women.
In a post on its official X handle, the TMC said, "@BJP4Bengal leader Sabyasachi Ghosh caught running a PROSTITUTION RACKET of MINOR GIRLS in his hotel in Howrah's Sankrail. The Police arrested 11 accused & rescued 6 victims from the spot. THIS IS BJP. They don't protect BETIS, they protect PIMPS!"
The development came as a delegation of BJP women activists, looking to further pressure the state government over the Sandeshkhali issue, was prevented from visiting the restive region earlier in the day.
The BJP team, led by MP Locket Chatterjee and MLA Agnimitra Paul, were stopped by the police, citing prohibitory orders. "We were denied entry to Sandeshkhali by the police citing prohibitory orders. The state government is trying to hide the truth," Paul claimed.
A National Human Rights Commission team is also in Sandeshkhali today to ascertain facts by an on-spot inquiry into allegations of violation of human rights there.
Multiple women in Sandeshkhali had raised allegations of systemic sexual exploitation and land grabbing against several leaders belonging to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The women alleged that Sheikh Shahjahan, a member of the local Zila Parishad, is the prime culprit.
The women came out with the allegations against the TMC leaders after Sheikh Shahjahan went into hiding. A team of the Enforcement Directorate which was on its way to Shahjahan's house in Sandeshkhali was attacked in January, and he has been absconding since then.
Two of his close aides - Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar -- who are also TMC leaders, were arrested after police filed a case based on complaints by women in the area.
