Kolkata, May 31: The TMC on Sunday alleged the attack on its leader Abhishek Banerjee in West Bengal’s Sonarpur was “planned and BJP-sponsored”, and not a spontaneous expression of public anger as claimed by the ruling party.
The opposition party posted photographs on its official X handle, claiming these proved the involvement of local BJP functionaries in the incident.
“If the BJP claims this attack was merely an expression of spontaneous public anger, then why was a key BJP functionary present at the scene playing such an active, directorial role? Who authorised this mobilisation?” the TMC posed in the X post.
The TMC also posted photos claiming that a woman seen in the crowd during the incident had previously been photographed alongside BJP leader Locket Chatterjee.
The party further questioned who had authorised the “mobilisation and planned the attack”.
Referring to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, TMC demanded his accountability for the attack on Banerjee.
The TMC also alleged that senior BJP leaders had “weaponised” the word “Bangladeshi” as a slur for years and claimed that such remarks were now being directed at the sitting MP.
Questioning whether this was how opposition MPs were being treated under the BJP-led dispensation at the Centre, the party asked whether Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla would condemn the incident.
It further alleged that standards of public discourse were deteriorating under the BJP rule and asserted that the attack on Abhishek Banerjee was being closely watched by people across the country and abroad.
‘Victim of state-sponsored terrorism’
A day after he was attacked, Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday said he was a victim of “state-sponsored terrorism”.
“Today, I stand as a victim of political violence and state-sponsored terrorism unleashed by those who claim to be the guardians of nationalism,” Banerjee wrote in a social media post.
He also thanked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his “concern and constant support” following the incident. He also thanked Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for their condemnation of the attack.
“We stand united and resolute in our fight to protect the soul of India, defend its democratic institutions and uphold the values enshrined in our Constitution,” he said. (PTI)
