BJP's Basirhat Candidate Rekha Patra Moves Women's Panel Over 'Breach' Of Privacy, TMC Clarifies

New Delhi: BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Basirhat, Rekha Patra, filed a complaint with the National Commission for Women (NCW) against TMC candidate Debangshu Bhattacharyya, alleging a violation of her privacy, news agency PTI reported.

In a letter addressed to the NCW, Patra highlighted an incident where Bhattacharyya, TMC's nominee from Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency and head of the party's social media cell, allegedly divulged Patra's personal information, including her phone number, bank account details, and participation in state-sponsored schemes, on Facebook.

"Recently, through a post on Debangshu Bhattacharyya's Facebook account, the TMC candidate from Tamluk has shared the private details of my client, such as phone number, bank account details, Swasthya Sathi scheme details, as well as the Duare Sarkar scheme details, which is a clear violation of my client's right to privacy and an outrage to her modesty by making her personal details public," Patra's lawyer said in the letter, reported PTI.

Bhattacharyya defended his actions asserting that Patra had availed herself of state-sponsored health insurance schemes in the past. He shared a card showing Patra had attended a government outreach program, 'Duare Sarkar', to get the benefits of health and financial assistance schemes.

Patra acknowledged her enrollment in these schemes but asserted her right as a citizen of West Bengal to access state welfare initiatives.

Seeking swift action, Patra's legal counsel urged the NCW to intervene, citing violations of privacy rights and provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Protection (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Responding to the controversy, NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma criticised the TMC government's stance, questioning the exclusivity of state benefits.

“Is @MamataOfficial is paying from her own pocket? That’s taxpayers money and is for every citizen of West Bengal. Is it only for @AITCofficial workers? And what do you mean by Delhi’s Jomidars? Is West Bengal not part of India? You people behave as if Momta Benarji own the state," Sharma posted.

Is @MamataOfficial is paying from her own pocket? That's taxpayers money and is for every citizen of west Bengal. Is it only for @AITCofficial workers? And what do you mean by Delhi's Jomidars? Is west Bengal not part of India? You people behave as if Momta Benarji own the state. https://t.co/IGBODNZd7S

— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) March 28, 2024

Meanwhile, TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose countered Sharma's remarks, highlighting a spelling error in her reference to Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal's Chief Minister.

“Would be good if the chief of the National Commission of Women knew how to spell the name of India’s only woman chief minister,” she posted on X.