BJP leaders say Nusrat Jahan has been missing in action. Image/Instagram
As Sandeshkhali in West Bengal continues to be on the boil with local women speaking out against alleged sexual exploitation by ruling Trinamool Congress leaders there, the area’s Member of Parliament and a woman herself — Nusrat Jahan— was seen celebrating Valentine’s Day with her husband and actor Yash Dasgupta
It was the winter of 2014, at the fag end of the UPA 2 regime, when victims of the Muzaffarnagar riots in Uttar Pradesh were trying to get rehabilitated away from their homes. As many as 34 children reportedly died in temporary shelters after failing to withstand the bitter cold that swept the region. But, not far away, in Saifai — Mulayam Singh Yadav’s hometown — there was a cultural extravaganza. With Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit performing, the Saifai festival came to an end amid visuals of a cheerful Samajwadi Party leadership on the one hand against the riot victims fighting to remain alive that winter week.
Ten years have passed. But Bharatiya Janata Party leaders say that nearly a thousand kilometres away from Saifai, history seems to have repeated itself in West Bengal this week.
As Sandeshkhali continues to be on the boil with local women speaking out against alleged sexual exploitation by ruling Trinamool Congress leaders there, the area’s Member of Parliament and a woman herself — Nusrat Jahan— was seen celebrating Valentine’s Day with her husband and actor Yash Dasgupta. Donning a royal red dress, she took part in a Valentine’s Day special photo shoot for a daily, which she shared on her official Instagram page with heart emojis.
The West Bengal police has called the sexual exploitation allegations “wilful misinformation”. On Wednesday night, they took to X to claim, “no allegations of sexual torture of women have so far been received”.
On the Ganga with the beautiful image of the iconic Howrah Bridge in the background, the MP of Basirhat, which includes Sandeshkhali, is leaning on Yash in one photo she posted and a reel has both holding what seems to be champagne glasses or eating chocolates while sitting on what appears to be a yacht.
West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose as well as a delegation of the National Commission of Women have gone to Sandeshkhali to hear the plight of the victims. “Give us justice,” pleaded the women with their faces covered when they found the governor in front of them. A photo of one woman holding the governor’s hand has gone viral on social media.
NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma too took to X.
According to my team who has visited #Sandeshkali, police has filed complaints against the relatives of women victims instead of filing their complaints. Villagers are been terrified equally by goons and by the police. This is the way Mamta did treats women in West Bengal.…— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) February 13, 2024
But, BJP leaders say, Nusrat Jahan has been missing in action. The party has taken a sharp dig at the MP’s “priorities” on social media site X with the video from her Insta reel. It also has a provocative hashtag.
The TMC leader earlier issued a statement that read, “At this critical juncture, let’s refrain from instigating or provoking others and instead unite to support the administration. The state government is tirelessly aiding locals, and as an elected representative, I maintain regular communication with authorities. It’s crucial to avoid politicising the situation; my role is to quell the flames, not stoke them. Let’s cooperate with the administration and allow them to perform their duties.”
But then, BJP leaders point out, she continued with her celebration and announced it to the world on Instagram.
