Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien on Saturday questioned the security situation in West Bengal after party leader and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee was attacked by a mob during a visit to the family of a person killed in post-poll violence.
In a post on X, O’Brien said Banerjee, whom he described as the Lok Sabha leader of the second-largest opposition party, faced an attack while visiting the bereaved family and sought answers on security arrangements.
“What is happening now in Bengal? Lok Sabha leader of the second largest opposition party AITCofficial went to visit the family of a person killed by BJP in the post-election violence. @abhishekaitc was lynched and attacked by a few BJP supporters. Life is in danger,” O’Brien said in the post. Where is the police? Why was security withdrawn on the day of vote counting? Let the Minister of Interior answer.”
The TMC leader claimed that security was withdrawn from Banerjee on the day of counting and sought an explanation from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the incident.
Police said Banerjee was assaulted on Saturday, apparently by local residents, when he visited Sonarpur district in West Bengal state to meet families of victims of post-election violence.
Stones, shoes and eggs were thrown at the MP by unidentified persons who even tried to rain punches and kicks on him, while shouting slogans of ‘thief, thief’ at Banerjee.
TMC leaders claimed that the protest was politically motivated and accused the BJP of orchestrating the attack to disrupt Banerjee’s visit.
