TMC MP's convoy attacked, stones thrown at minister Hansda's car; Abhishek Banerjee blames BJP

In a recent incident, senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee expressed his disapproval of the attack on West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda's vehicle, emphasizing that peaceful protests should not transform into acts of hooliganism.

The incident, which occurred in Paschim Medinipur district, involved members of the Kurmi community allegedly pelting stones at Banerjee's convoy. Banerjee attributed the attack to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while highlighting the need for peaceful dialogue and criticizing the use of violence.

Banerjee, who was leading a roadshow as part of the Trinamool Nabojovar campaign, encountered the gathering of Kurmi community members in Salboni. As the convoy proceeded, stones were reportedly thrown, resulting in damage to Hansda's vehicle. The situation prompted the deployment of a significant police force to restore order, and it remains unclear whether any arrests have been made.

Accusing the BJP of orchestrating the attack, Banerjee called for democratic protests and invited individuals to engage in dialogue rather than resorting to violence, stone-throwing, and vandalism. Addressing a party program in Gopiballavpur, he alleged that certain miscreants, disguised as members of the Kurmi community, were behind the incident, aiming to discredit the TMC's campaign. Banerjee urged Kurmi community leaders to issue a statement within 48 hours clarifying their stance. Failure to do so, he asserted, would implicate their involvement and result in legal consequences.

Minister of State for Forests, Birbaha Hansda, whose vehicle suffered damage, denounced violence as an inappropriate means of democratic protest. She emphasized that the perpetrators were outsiders masquerading as members of a specific community, exploiting their identity to justify the use of violence.