'Rulers became killers': Mamata blames BJP after Abhishek Banerjee assaulted in Bengal

Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned the incident and accused the BJP of being responsible for the attack.

The BJP, however, rejected the allegation and denied any involvement.

Assaulted during visit

Abhishek Banerjee, the Diamond Harbour MP and one of the senior-most leaders of the Trinamool Congress, had travelled to Sonarpur to meet party workers and families who allegedly faced violence following the recent Assembly election results.

As he moved through a large gathering, Banerjee wore a cricket helmet as a precautionary measure.

Videos that later circulated on social media showed a chaotic scene in which individuals allegedly pushed, pulled, slapped and punched him.

Stones and eggs were also reportedly thrown during the confrontation.

The footage showed Banerjee and his private security personnel attempting to move through the crowd while trying to prevent further attacks.

Mamata targets BJP

Reacting to the incident, Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the ruling BJP government in the state.

Describing the assault as unacceptable, she alleged that those in power had failed to maintain law and order and accused the BJP of being behind the incident.

Her remarks came shortly after videos of the attack gained widespread attention online and sparked intense political debate.

Hospitals deny admission

Two private hospitals in Kolkata, where Abhishek Banerjee was taken following the assault, have denied admission to the TMC MP, citing that he has no "serious injuries".

Mamata Banerjee also rushed to both the hospitals along with other senior party leaders, including Derek O'Brien and Sovan Chatterjee.

Abhishek calls attack ‘pre-planned’

Following the incident, Abhishek Banerjee claimed the assault had been organised in advance and alleged that adequate police deployment was absent from the area.

He stated that the attack appeared intended to intimidate him and said he would remain in the area until police personnel arrived and ensured protection for families affected by post-poll violence.

The Trinamool Congress leader also described the incident as a BJP-backed operation, an allegation that the ruling party immediately disputed.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee faced massive public protests in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, on May 30. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

BJP rejects allegations

The BJP's West Bengal unit firmly denied any role in the attack.

State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said the party had no connection with the incident and maintained that the allegations were baseless.

While condemning the assault, Bhattacharya said political disagreements should not result in physical attacks and argued that such incidents do not reflect the principles of a healthy democracy.

He also stated that residents continue to remember the governance record of the Trinamool Congress during its 15 years in power and claimed that the opposition had no moral authority to visit families affected by violence.

Congress condemns incident

The Indian National Congress (INC) also criticised the attack and expressed concern over the security arrangements available to opposition leaders in the state.

The party condemned the violence and called for adequate protection for political leaders visiting areas affected by post-election unrest.

Congress leaders also questioned whether sufficient security measures had been provided during Banerjee’s visit.

Post-poll violence back in focus

The incident has once again brought attention to the issue of post-poll violence in West Bengal.

Political clashes have long been a recurring feature of the state's electoral landscape.

While the recent Assembly election campaign remained relatively peaceful compared to previous contests, tensions escalated after the declaration of results.

Earlier this month, West Bengal Police reported that hundreds of people had been arrested in connection with incidents linked to post-election violence across the state.

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court recently directed the state administration to ensure strict maintenance of law and order and take necessary steps to prevent further disturbances at the ground level.