Stage-managed drama: Oppn on expelled TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan's arrest

Opposition parties in West Bengal on Thursday called expelled Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan's arrest as "stage-managed drama" even as celebration continued in jubilant Sandeshkhali with people celebrating “untimely” Holi and were found distributing sweets. Meanwhile, Trinamool expelled him from the party for the next six years.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari, who was on a visit to Sandeshkhali’s Halderpara today, called the arrest as "a mutual arrangement of police and Sheikh Shahjahan", while CPI-M leaders said that Shahjahan was already in “police's safety net” and now he has been "shown arrested".

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said, “This is not arrest. Women of Sandeshkhali want capital punishment for Shahjahan. He should be taken into ED custody and the probe must be conducted by CBI."


CPI-M senior leader Sujan Chakraborty said, “Shahjahan was in the protection of police. He has been shown to the world that he has been arrested.”

BJP Bengal leadership called it a face-saving act. BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar said, “It is a face-saving activity by Trinamool Congress. Why have they expelled Sheikh Shahjahan now? Until yesterday he was called a leader who is not tainted. After his arrest, it seemed from his body language, that Shahjahan has not been arrested by policemen but instead he has arrested them. Shahjahan is behaving in a way that he has won two golds in the Olympics.”

CPI-M state secretary Mohd Salim participated in a rally in Sandeshkhali today. Salim said, “One Shahjahan is not enough. There are many more who needs to be arrested.”

Celebrations in Sandeshkhali

Celebrations were witnessed in Sandeshkhali. “We are very happy that Sheikh Shahjahan has been arrested. We are relieved and at peace after his arrest,” said a local woman.

“We are celebrating today as Sheikh Shahjahan has been arrested. We are playing Holi,” said another woman. Sweets were also distributed by the villagers by the locals.

Calcutta HC on Shahjahan

The Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice's bench said that the court has “no sympathy” for Sheikh Shahjahan and there is no possibility of any emergency hearing for him today even as Shahjahan's advocate drew attention of the court for an emergency hearing for bail plea.

Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam asked his advocate to appear before it on Monday, when a suo motu motion on alleged sexual atrocities and land grabbing of tribal people at Sandeshkhali will be heard.

Shahjahan’s advocate informed the court many applications made by him were still pending before the court, the Chief Justice said that 42 cases were pending against the Shahjahan.
Sivagnanam also told the lawyer that he will have wonderful work for the next 10 years as he would be busy handling Shahjahan’s cases with three-four juniors.