Rahul Gandhi Slams Violence Against TMC MP
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized the alleged assault on Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee during his visit to Sonarpur in West Bengal.
Reacting to the incident, Gandhi described the attack as a serious challenge to democratic values, arguing that violence against an elected representative extends beyond an individual and affects the citizens who chose that representative through the electoral process.
“The attack on MP Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur is utterly reprehensible. An attack on a Member of Parliament is not merely an assault on one individual—it is an assault on the very people who elected him, and on the democracy that is our shared legacy,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.
Congress Leader Targets BJP Over Incident
Gandhi also accused the BJP of encouraging a politics of retaliation and said political disagreements should never result in physical attacks.
“This is the ugly face of the BJP’s politics of revenge. Political differences can never justify violence. The central government and the West Bengal government—both must take immediate action against the perpetrators, and ensure that no public representative, regardless of their party, ever has to worry about their safety. Abhishek ji, my thoughts are with you and your family. Wishing you a speedy recovery,” he added.
BJP Responds to Allegations
The BJP responded to the controversy through party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, who questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident and urged authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Speaking to ANI, Poonawalla stated that while no one should resort to violence, political leaders must also reflect on public sentiment and ensure that law and order is maintained.
“… We have seen in Delhi that the leaders of Delhi who were previously Chief Ministers would get attacks staged on themselves…They should have the police take action. The police provided protection. This becomes a subject for self-reflection on what we have done that wherever they go, people call them thieves… No one should take the law into their own hands,” he said.
Sonarpur Incident Sparks Political Storm
The controversy erupted after Abhishek Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress national general secretary, visited Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district to meet families reportedly affected by post-poll violence.
During the visit, he was allegedly surrounded by locals, with reports claiming that eggs were thrown at him and his clothes were torn during the confrontation. Videos from the scene circulated widely on social media, showing tense moments before security personnel escorted the MP away from the area.
The incident has triggered a fresh political battle between the TMC, Congress and BJP, with leaders across party lines weighing in on the attack and demanding accountability.
