Opposition Leaders Condemn Attacks on TMC's Abhishek Banerjee as Political Vendetta

In a united stance, opposition leaders from across India have condemned the recent attack on Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The incident, described as an "ugly face of the BJP's politics of revenge," saw stones, eggs, and insults aimed at Banerjee during his visit to Sonarpur, a town near Kolkata.

Banerjee was on a visit to meet the family of a TMC worker allegedly killed in post-election violence. Escaping the mob with help from journalists, he donned a cricket helmet for protection while a significant police force escorted him to safety. In a social media post, his aunt, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee, criticized the BJP as "rulers turned killers."

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of fostering a lack of security for opposition figures and called for both the West Bengal and central governments to take action. Meanwhile, political voices like Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal emphasized that political disputes must not lead to violence.

The TMC also pinned responsibility on the BJP, accusing it of inciting such turmoil since taking office. Opposition leaders argue that this reflects a broader pattern of intimidation under BJP governance. The BJP, however, has denied involvement and blames longstanding local grievances for the unrest.

(With inputs from agencies.)