After six arrests were made in connection with the attack on Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur, the party criticized the police action, claiming it was merely a formality. The party alleged that the actual perpetrators had ties to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy expressed dissatisfaction with the arrests, stating that the detained individuals were not the main culprits behind the incident. Roy accused the authorities of failing to apprehend the alleged masterminds, emphasizing that the arrested individuals were active BJP workers.
Banerjee faced harassment and physical assault when he visited the family of a deceased Trinamool worker in Sonarpur. Despite being protected by security personnel, he encountered public outrage along the way, with some individuals throwing objects at him and shouting derogatory slogans.
Responding to BJP leaders’ claims of public anger against the Trinamool Congress, Roy dismissed the assertion, accusing the BJP of promoting a misleading political narrative. He emphasized that the attacks were carried out by BJP supporters instigated by their leaders.
The Trinamool Congress leader expressed uncertainty about the continuation of central security cover for Banerjee during public engagements. Roy questioned whether the Central Forces, previously assigned to protect BJP leaders, would accompany Banerjee in such situations.
The BJP condemned the incident, distancing itself from the attack and emphasizing that the party played no role in the events in Sonarpur. West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya stated that violence against any political leader was unacceptable in a democratic society.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Raju Waghmare characterized the incident as a manifestation of public resentment rather than a new political development. He attributed the public outrage to suppressed emotions under the previous government and alleged injustices by the Trinamool Congress.
