NEW DELHI: TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and opposition parties upped the ante against the ruling BJP on Saturday after TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was allegedly assaulted during a visit to West Bengal’s Sonarpur to meet families affected by post-poll violence.These remarks came after stones, shoes and eggs were hurled at the TMC MP by unidentified people, who allegedly tried to assault him while shouting “thief, thief” slogans during his visit.Reacting to the incident, the former West Bengal chief minister shared a video of attack on her nephew Abhishek Banerjee and launched a sharp attack on BJP, writing, “Rulers became killers- shame on you BJP”Videos from the scene showed Banerjee being escorted away by security personnel wearing a police helmet, with his shirt visibly torn in the scuffle.The TMC leader had gone to meet the family of slain party worker Sanju Karmakar and other families who, according to the party, were targeted after the assembly election results.
‘Vicious attack by BJP-backed miscreants’
The Trinamool Congress also accused the BJP of being behind the attack. “Staying true to his word, Abhishek Banerjee refused to abandon the grieving family of Sanju Karmakar,” the party said in a post on X.“Even after a vicious attack by BJP Bengal-backed miscreants, our National General Secretary chose not to turn back. Instead, he stood beside a family devastated by an unimaginable loss allegedly inflicted by BJP-backed hooligans,” the party said.“That is the difference between politics driven by compassion and politics driven by hatred,” it added.The TMC further targeted Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, saying, “Today’s events have once again exposed the kind of politics you preside over, one rooted in intimidation, violence and vendetta.”
‘Take immediate steps’: Kharge
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge strongly condemned the incident, saying the attack on Abhishek was unacceptable.“I strongly condemn the shocking attack on MP Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur, as he went to meet the families affected by post-poll violence in the state,” Kharge posted on X.“The deliberate lack of adequate police protection for a prominent Opposition leader speaks volumes about the BJP’s politics of vendetta and persecution. The Government of West Bengal and the Union Government must ensure security for all Opposition leaders and take immediate steps to prevent such attacks. Political differences can never justify any kind of violence,” he added.
‘Arrangements points to major conspiracy’
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticised the BJP, calling the incident a conspiracy.“By orchestrating a murderous attack on Abhishek Banerjee ji, a key leader of the Trinamool Congress in Bengal, the anarchic BJP government in Bengal has proven that the BJP is capable of nothing but hate-filled, negative, violent politics,” he said.“Even in such a sensitive environment, the absence of police arrangements points to a major conspiracy. Utterly condemnable!” Yadav added.
‘Where are the police?’: TMC
TMC leader Derek O’Brien questioned why Abhishek’s security had allegedly been withdrawn and claimed his life was at risk.“What is happening now in Bengal. The Lok Sabha Leader of the second largest Opposition party @AITCofficial went to visit the family of a person murdered by BJP in post poll violence and was lynched and attacked by a few BJP supporters. Life at risk. Where are the police? Why was security withdrawn on the day of counting? Let the Home Minister answer,” he posted on X.
BJP denies involvement
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya denied the party’s involvement and said the incident could be the outcome of the anger of locals who were “tortured” over the years.“The BJP is not involved in such activities. What has happened is not expected in a democracy,” Bhattacharya told reporters.“I will not be able to say why police were not there; it is a matter of the administration. I am from the party. What the TMC has done to our party workers all these years cannot be described. We still remember what they did to Rupa Ganguly, to our leaders in South 24 Parganas district. Today, because we are restrained, that is why the TMC is still there,” he added.Union minister Sukanta Majumdar said, “I condemn this incident. I appeal to the public to not take law and order in their own hands… The public of Bengal is furious against the TMC and Abhishek Banerjee… We need to improve Bengal… We need to make the politics of Bengal violence free…”“I appeal to the public to maintain peace and trust law and order,” he added.
‘They want to kill me’: Abhishek Banerjee
After the attack, Banerjee alleged that it was pre-planned and claimed there was inadequate police presence. “Look what they have done to me. This was pre-planned. There is no police in the area. They want to kill me,” he said while meeting the family of a deceased post-poll violence victim.“I will not leave this place till police send their force and offer protection to the victims’ families,” he added.Local women carrying broomsticks and bamboo sticks gathered outside the residence Abhishek visited and raised slogans against him.According to PTI, questioning his visit, one protester said, “Why has he come here? The person whose house he has come to visit is also a thief. It is like a thief visiting another thief.”Another woman asked, “Where was he (Abhishek) when the Nirbhaya incident happened? How many times had he gone to meet the parents of Nirbhaya? We want an answer from him.”Earlier in the day, Abhishek also visited the family of another slain TMC worker, Biswajit Pattanayak, in Beleghata. “Today, I visited the family of Biswajit Pattanayak in Beleghata. Biswajit was a dedicated Trinamool Congress worker whose brutal murder exposed the dangerous climate of violence that has engulfed Bengal since BJP 4 Bengal CAPTURED power,” he wrote on X.“No family should have to endure such loss. Yet, as I spoke to his loved ones, I saw not only grief but also a burning desire for justice. BJP may attempt to shield its miscreants, but truth cannot be buried forever,” he added.
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