NEW DELHI: The political climate in West Bengal intensified as Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee and various opposition parties criticized the ruling BJP following an incident where TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was allegedly assaulted during a visit to Sonarpur. He was reportedly attacked by unidentified individuals who threw stones, shoes, and eggs while shouting slogans like “thief, thief.”
In response to the attack, Mamata Banerjee shared a video of the incident and condemned the BJP, stating, “Rulers became killers—shame on you, BJP.” Visuals circulated online showed Abhishek Banerjee being escorted away from the scene wearing a helmet and with his shirt torn.
The TMC accused the BJP of orchestrating the attack, emphasizing that despite facing violence from “BJP Bengal-backed miscreants,” Abhishek Banerjee chose to remain with the grieving family of Sanju Karmakar, a victim of post-poll violence. The party elaborated that this situation exemplified “politics driven by compassion” versus “politics driven by hatred.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the incident, stating it was unacceptable and highlighted the inadequate police protection for Abhishek Banerjee as indicative of the BJP’s “politics of vendetta and persecution.” He urged the West Bengal and Union Governments to ensure safety for opposition leaders and take immediate action against such violence.
Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief, also condemned the attack, calling it a conspiracy and criticizing the lack of police presence as a significant concern. He remarked on the BJP’s alleged descent into “hate-filled, negative, violent politics.”
TMC leader Derek O’Brien raised questions about the withdrawal of Abhishek’s security, asserting his life was in danger. He highlighted that Abhishek Banerjee visited to meet a family of a post-poll violence victim yet encountered hostility instead.
The BJP’s West Bengal President, Samik Bhattacharya, denied any party involvement in the incident, suggesting it reflected the local populace’s frustration after years of alleged torment. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar appealed for peace and urged the public to respect law and order, stating that anger towards TMC and Abhishek Banerjee had escalated.
Following the attack, Abhishek Banerjee claimed it was pre-planned due to the lack of police presence, asserting, “They want to kill me.” He vowed to remain at the site until police provided adequate protection for the families of victims. Local women protested outside the residence he visited, questioning his motives and actions both in the current situation and in past incidents, such as the Nirbhaya case.
Earlier that day, Abhishek Banerjee had also visited the family of another slain TMC worker, Biswajit Pattanayak, outlining the ongoing climate of violence in Bengal since the BJP’s rise to power. He expressed solidarity with bereaved families and called for justice, affirming that the truth would ultimately prevail despite attempts to obscure it.
