Union Minister Smriti Irani today slammed the Mamata Banerjee government over the allegations of women in south Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, declaring that “young Hindu married women” are being targetted by Trinamool Congress goons. The state has been in the eye of a political storm over the allegations of women, who have accused a local Trinamool leader of systematic sexual exploitation. The man in question, Zilla Parishad member Sheikh Shajahan — also accused of land grabbing — is on the run. He is also wanted by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged PDS scam.

Sandeshkhali, an island in Sundarbans close to the Bangladesh border, has been placed under Prohibitory Orders banning large gatherings.

“Young Hindu married women are being deliberately targetted,” Ms Irani alleged, reading out what she said were the women’s version of events as told to the local media.

That Mamata Banerjee “will now allow her men to pick out young Hindu married women to be raped night after night in the TMC office cannot be articulated in mere words. Can we as citizens be mute spectators?’ she said.

Over the last days, a large number of women in Sandeshkhali, armed with sticks and brooms, have been holding protests, alleging that Sheikh Shajahan and his “gang” have captured swathes of land by force, and are sexually exploiting them.

In a video unverified by NDTV, that’s being widely circulated online, a woman alleged that they are being dragged off to the Trinamool office, kept overnight and sexually assaulted.

The women have demanded the arrest of Sheikh Shajahan, who has been on the run since a team of the Enforcement Directorate went to raid his house last month in connection with an alleged ration scam. The team was attacked by a mob.

Ms Irani said the agency has given a police statement that three of the officials were injured in the stone throwing that took place in Sandeshkhali.

Earlier today, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and other MLAs of the party were stopped from visiting the area by the police, who cited the prohibitory orders.

Governor CV Ananda Bose later visited Sandeshkhali after which, he said he would “do everything in my power to help”.

“When I heard about shocking and shattering incidents of Sandeshkhali, I cut short my visit to Kerala. I am going to Sandeskhali and want to see it myself what the real sandesh (message) from the gullies (lanes) of Sandeshkhali,” he said at the Kolkata airport this morning.

Welcoming his visit, Mamata Banerjee told reporters today that “in as much as possible, people responsible for the violence have been arrested”.

She said the state women’s commission has also visited the area and spoken to the people.

Congress’s Sonia Gandhi is likely to move from the hurly burly of Lok Sabha elections, handing the baton to daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, sources have told NDTV. The veteran leader is likely to be nominated for a Rajya Sabha seat in Rajasthan. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest the Lok Sabha polls from the family turf of Raebareli, sources said. This would be Ms Gandhi Vadra’s first election.

Sonia Gandhi, 77, who has not been keeping well, is likely to file nomination from Jaipur in the coming round of Rajya Sabha election, sources said.

For the Congress, it would be a huge Change of Guard. Mrs Gandhi has been representing Raebareli in the Lok Sabha since 2006. She had won the seat even in 2019, when the Congress performance was at its all-time low and Rahul Gandhi lost the other family turf of Uttar Pradesh — Amethi — to the BJP’s Smriti Irani.

For Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, whose entry in electoral politics has been speculated on for decades, this is seen as a safe seat.  The constituency, a Congress bastion since 1950s, was first represented by her grandfather Feroze Gandhi.

It was expected that Ms Gandhi Vadra would contest in 2019 when she formally entered politics in January that year. Many had hoped for a face-off between her and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi.

But Rahul Gandhi, who was heading the party that time, entrusted her with rejuvenating the party in Uttar Pradesh as the AICC General Secretary in charge of the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh and then as the General Secretary in charge of the entire Uttar Pradesh.

But that effort had crash-landed with the BJP’s massive victory from the state in 2019 and Yogi Adityanath’s triumphant return to power in the state in 2022.

Ms Gandhi Vadra’s then comrade-in-arms, Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was also in charge of Uttar Pradesh, has since joined the BJP.

Ms Gandhi Vadra, a crowd -puller who has represented her mother for years in Raebareli, is seen as the Congress’s big hope for rejuvenation in the state ahead of the national election.

Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan’s movie My Name Is Khan has reached its 14th anniversary today. The film directed by Karan Johar has been cherished by fans since its release in 2010. Known for its romantic drama and popular songs, the movie holds a special place in the hearts of many. Kajol commemorated the 14-year milestone by sharing a heartfelt photo and caption on her social media.

On Monday, Kajol took to her Instagram handle and wrote, “Reflecting on the journey of Rizwan and Mandira, and the countless lives they’ve touched..Celebrating the enduring power of love and unity.. #14yearsofmynameiskhan.”

The image shows Kajol leaning on Shah Rukh Khan, both dressed in matching black outfits.

The movie revolves around Rizwan, who has Asperger’s syndrome, and his marriage to Mandira. Following the tragic events of the 9/11 attacks, he sets out on a mission to alter society’s perception of his community.

See Also: BTS pics from Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s My Name Is Khan feature Sidharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan