BJP, rebel TMC allege Abhishek may flee abroad; Mamata camp rejects charge
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's plea before the Supreme Court seeking permission to travel abroad for specialised eye treatment reignited the political battle in West Bengal on Monday, August 3. Both the ruling BJP and the rival TMC alleged that the party's national general secretary could use the visit to flee the country.
The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC camp rejected the allegation, accusing its opponents of politicising a medical issue.
The latest round of sparring comes after Banerjee moved the apex court seeking permission to travel overseas for treatment of an eye injury sustained in a 2017 road accident, contending that he has cooperated with investigators in all cases against him and should not be denied access to medical care.
The BJP sought to turn the legal development into a political issue, with the TMC rebel faction led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee alleging that the TMC national general secretary could exploit his diplomatic passport to evade Indian law.
Claiming that Members of Parliament possess diplomatic passports, Ritabrata Banerjee alleged that if Abhishek travelled to a country without an extradition treaty with India, it could complicate any future legal action against him.
"He is desperate to go abroad because he wants to escape. Once someone with a diplomatic passport reaches a country that has no extradition treaty with India, bringing him back becomes difficult," the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly said.
Without furnishing any evidence, he also demanded an inquiry into the source of funds spent on Abhishek Banerjee's previous foreign medical treatment, questioning whether the expenses were borne personally or through party resources.
The BJP's attack was echoed by senior party leader and West Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul, who alleged that the TMC leader might be using his medical condition as a pretext to leave the country.
"If he needs treatment, we can arrange the best facilities in a state government hospital. Lakhs of people are treated here. There could be a plan to escape from the country," Paul claimed.
The Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee camp strongly rejected the allegations, accusing the BJP of politicising a serious health issue.
Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said Abhishek Banerjee had been undergoing periodic specialised treatment abroad for a long-standing eye condition arising out of injuries suffered in a road accident nearly nine years ago.
"They should stop politicising a health issue. Why will he escape? He has faced every politically motivated case and has cooperated with the investigations," Ghosh said.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of Banerjee's legal battle over permission to travel overseas.
He had earlier moved the Calcutta High Court seeking leave to travel abroad for treatment. The high court had declined his plea for an urgent hearing, while the main petition remains pending. Banerjee has now approached the Supreme Court seeking relief.
Abhishek Banerjee suffered a serious injury below his eye in a road accident while returning to Kolkata from Murshidabad in October 2017. After initial treatment in India, he underwent specialised treatment abroad and has since travelled overseas periodically for follow-up procedures, according to the TMC.
Politically, the BJP's latest attack reflects its attempt to keep the spotlight on the multiple investigations involving the TMC's second-in-command.
