Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee faced violence during a visit to Sonarpur South, West Bengal, where he was meeting families affected by post-poll violence. Police reports indicate that stones and eggs were hurled at Banerjee’s convoy as he traveled through South 24 Parganas.
Banerjee’s visit was aimed at offering support to the family of Sanju Karmakar, a TMC worker who was killed, as well as other families reportedly targeted following the assembly election results. This incident marks Banerjee’s first prominent public appearance since the TMC’s recent electoral defeat.
Following the attack, Banerjee, appearing visibly shaken and with a torn shirt, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the violence. “It’s all BJP-sponsored. Look what they have done. This is their example of democracy. It hasn’t even been a month, and the police are nowhere to be seen,” he told reporters. He further stated, “They wanted to kill me. The whole incident has been captured on camera. We will definitely inform the high court and the governor about this… I will definitely move to court.”
This visit occurred amid rising political tensions, particularly following a notice from the West Bengal CID, directing Banerjee to appear before investigators at their headquarters in Kolkata on June 1. The notice pertains to an investigation into the alleged use of forged signatures from TMC legislators in a communication submitted to the West Bengal Assembly that supported senior TMC leader Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay for the role of Leader of the Opposition.
In reaction to the notice, Banerjee expressed his intention to consult with his legal team before responding, saying, “I will surely cooperate with the probe in whatever manner possible.” He criticized the increasing number of agencies involved in the investigation, stating, “They think they will send 5-6 agencies after me and blackmail me into cowering down. I am not a person like that.”
