Derek O’Brien Accuses BJP Supporters of Orchestrating Attack on Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien on Saturday strongly condemned the alleged attack on TMC National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee, claiming that the incident was a “planned assault” carried out by BJP supporters during Banerjee’s visit to meet a bereaved family affected by election-related violence.

Addressing the media, O’Brien said that visuals of the incident clearly show a hostile crowd confronting Banerjee. He alleged that a group of BJP supporters gathered deliberately and launched an attack, describing the situation as an attempted lynching.

“The visuals are out there. Abhishek Banerjee went to visit the family of those who have lost a loved one during the elections. A few BJP supporters got together. This was a planned assault. Lynching was taking place. A brick was being thrown at him. Where was the police?” O’Brien said.

The TMC leader further alleged that hospitals were facing pressure not to admit Banerjee following the incident. According to O’Brien, medical personnel were receiving instructions that led to Banerjee being shifted from the first hospital where he was initially taken.

“The tests are going on now. He is in the ITU. We are hearing there is pressure on this hospital as well not to admit Abhishek Banerjee. This is the situation now in West Bengal,” he added.

The allegations have intensified the political confrontation between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal. There has been no immediate response from the BJP regarding the claims made by Derek O’Brien.