Kolkata, May 30: Leaders across the political spectrum in West Bengal on Saturday condemned the heckling and alleged physical assault on Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee during a public programme in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas district. However, while denouncing the incident, leaders of the BJP and CPI(M) also referred to Banerjee’s controversial and provocative remarks made during the recently concluded Assembly election campaign.
The incident triggered sharp political reactions, with parties expressing concern over the deteriorating political atmosphere in the state. BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya appealed to the public to maintain peace and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, Bhattacharya questioned the absence of adequate security during the attack but said it was for the state government to explain the circumstances. He also recalled past incidents of political violence in the state, including attacks on opposition leaders, and alleged that BJP workers had faced intimidation and violence during the previous Trinamool Congress government.
State CPI(M) Secretary and Politburo member Md. Salim also condemned the attack, stating that any form of physical assault on a political leader was unacceptable. At the same time, he pointed out that Banerjee had made several provocative statements and threats during the election campaign despite enjoying high-level security protection. Salim remarked that neither such statements nor the attack itself could be justified in a democratic setup.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh strongly criticized the security arrangements around Banerjee and questioned why police personnel failed to prevent the incident. He alleged that the withdrawal of security cover provided to Banerjee had contributed to the situation and demanded accountability from the administration.
As tensions escalated, police personnel and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) escorted Banerjee safely from the venue. Protesters gathered along the route raised slogans against him and accused him of corruption.
Speaking before leaving the area, Banerjee claimed that bricks and stones had been hurled at him and alleged that the attack could have resulted in serious injuries. He announced his intention to seek legal recourse and said he would approach the Calcutta High Court and, if necessary, the Supreme Court over the incident.
The episode has reignited political tensions in West Bengal, with parties trading accusations over violence, security lapses, and the state’s charged political climate.
