Abhishek attack reflects BJP Vendetta politics: Congress

The Congress condemned the attack on TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee during his Sonarpur visit, alleging inadequate security and BJP-backed politics of vendetta. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge urged authorities to ensure safety for opposition leaders and prevent political violence

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday strongly condemned the “attack” on TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in West Bengal’s Sonarpur and said the deliberate lack of adequate police protection for a prominent opposition leader speaks volumes about the BJP’s politics of “vendetta and persecution”.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was roughed up on Saturday, allegedly by locals, when he visited Sonarpur to meet families of post-poll violence victims, police said.

---

Stones, shoes and eggs were hurled at the MP by unidentified people, who even attempted to rain blows and kicks on him while shouting “thief, thief”.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Strongly condemn the shocking attack on MP Shri Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur, as he went to meet the families affected by post-poll violence in the state.” “The deliberate lack of adequate police protection for a prominent Opposition leader speaks volumes about the BJP’s politics of vendetta and persecution,” the Congress president said.

Union and West Bengal governments must ensure security for all opposition leaders and take immediate steps to prevent such attacks, Kharge said on X.

Political differences can never justify any kind of violence, he asserted. Television visuals from the spot showed Banerjee being escorted out of the area wearing a helmet, with his shirt torn during the commotion.

“Look what they have done to me. This was pre-planned. There is no police in the area. They want to kill me. I will not leave this place till police send their force and offer protection to the victims’ families,” Banerjee said while meeting the kin of a post-poll violence victim.

Local women, holding broomsticks and bamboo sticks, gathered outside the house of the TMC party worker where Banerjee visited. Questioning the purpose of his visit, they raised slogans against the MP.

BJP West Bengal president Samik Bhattacharya said the incident could be the outcome of the anger of locals who were “tortured” over the years.