On Wednesday, the high court again ordered the West Bengal government to hand over Sheikh to the CBI by 4.15 pm.
Puri also quoted from the high court’s Tuesday order which criticised the “biased” state police for “making every effort to delay” the investigation.
BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi said it is shameful that such a development is happening in a state ruled by a woman chief minister, a reference to TMC president Mamata Banerjee.
Taking a swipe at the state government, she asked what is the reason that it is trying to “protect” Sheikh and asserted that the agitation has been spearheaded by women in Sandeshkhali.
To a question on whether the Centre may impose the President’s rule in the state, Puri said it is a “political call” and “beyond” his “pay grade”.
“Everybody knows that there is a breakdown in law and order in Bengal,” he said, noting that the BJP normally allows democratically-elected governments to continue, unlike the Congress which had dismissed over 100 of them.
People will surely give a reply to the TMC, he said.
The West Bengal government is, however, reinforcing the public perception that there is a “total breakdown” of law and order, he said, adding that BJP workers were earlier violently targeted after elections.
Most victims in Sandeshkhali are from SC and ST communities, he said while accusing the TMC of trying to shield a “rapist”.
