The Trinamool Congress has strongly condemned the Monday’s attack on the convoy of its MP — and the party’s second-in-command— Abhishek Banerjee.
Hours after his cavalcade was attacked by alleged BJP supporters the Bengal ruling outfit took to Twitters saying “Shocking display of absolute hooliganism by the Tripura (BJP) government! When it comes to BJP, ruthlessness and DISRESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY seems to be running the show. You can keep trying but you cannot erase us from the hearts of the people of Tripura! Shameful attempt.”
The car of Banerjee who was on a day-long visit of Tripura was attacked with a flag stick by some alleged BJP men while he was proceeding towards the Tripureshwari Kali Temple, party sources said.
Alleging that the Tripura BJP and its Chief Minister Biplab Deb was “taking the state to new heights,” Banerjee later tweeted “Democracy in Tripura under BJP… Well done Biplab for taking the state to new heights.” He further said “They (BJP) say ‘Athithi Devo Bhawa’ (guest is God) … but now they are attacking (the visitors). The people of Tripura will judge.”
The TMC also accused the BJP of damaging and tearing off posters of Banerjee. The plan of creating trouble for Banerjee was hatched in advance, the party claimed even as its Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien called upon Home Minister Amit Shah to look into the matter and act against the miscreants.
He wrote “Raised the issue in Rajya Sabha of Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee being attacked today in Tripura. Amit Shah please come to Parliament and answers the hard questions. Democracy?”
While officials on duty at the Agartala police headquarters claimed “no information on any attack” on the Trinamool Congress leader who is also the nephew of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bengal BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said “the BJP does not such an act … though it is peanuts in comparison to what they have been doing here in Bengal.”
He said “I have heard there was a small commotion as people were spontaneously protesting against his party’s attempt to vitiate Tripura’s political atmosphere when Abhishek Banerjee’s vehicle reached there … the entire cavalcade had crossed the BJP procession and only at the tail end of the BJP rally some youth hurled a stick at his car which is not desirable.”
The Bengal BJP later wrote in its social media handle, “While this has been a routine affair in Bengal for any opposition leader, seems you have now dispatched violent TMC cadres to Tripura… Wait till the people of Bengal do this to TMC leaders in West Bengal too.”