Abhishek accuses BJP of vandalism at TMC office, BJP calls it a drama
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee claims that the BJP orchestrated vandalism at their party office.
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee has accused the BJP of vandalising the party office located on Camac Street in Kolkata. Abhishek released CCTV footage indicating that the attackers arrived around 4:30 AM on Thursday.
Abhishek Banerjee claimed that,
the BJP orchestrated the vandalism at their party office. He described the incident as extremely shameful, stating that the attackers came armed, assaulted their staff, snatched their phones, broke furniture, and ransacked the office.
According to Abhishek Banerjee, TMC employees and lawyers informed the police, but reports suggest that no action was taken for two hours.
Abhishek Banerjee shared this information in a post on his X account, showing some individuals with covered faces moving items in and out of the office. He also accused the police, questioning where Kolkata police were when the incident occurred. He has demanded arrests in connection with this incident. In his X post, Abhishek Banerjee wrote,
“We also demand an investigation into who planned this violence, who organized it, and who directed it, and why the police failed to act despite repeated notifications. No political party or any group of armed goons can be above the law.”
Abhishek further stated that if an attack can happen at a party office, then common citizens are also at risk, and the attackers can cause damage to property.
A few days ago, there were also reports of a dispute regarding this office, where the Kolkata Municipal Corporation removed the TMC signboard from the building in the presence of police on August 31. In this context, an FIR was filed against Abhishek and two others for the scuffle with officials, and around 13 people were arrested. Abhishek condemned this incident and demanded immediate arrests, as the attackers caused significant vandalism and damage to property.
When a political party's office is not safe, concerns about the safety of common citizens are justified.
Abhishek has also questioned the governance in West Bengal, stating, “If the police are absent, then is the rule of law in West Bengal preserved? Enough is enough. Arrest the culprits. Ensure accountability. Take immediate action.”
He has also questioned the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and the Governor of Bengal about whether they will take action.
He further questions West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, demanding his resignation, “Why are you so afraid of the Trinamool Congress and me that you have to resort to such threats? If violence, vandalism, and intimidation are to be the norm for the opposition in West Bengal, then the Chief Minister has no moral right to remain in office. He should resign.”
He questioned BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, saying,
“I have a direct question for Suvendu Adhikari—why are you so afraid of the Trinamool Congress and me that you have to resort to such threats and intimidation?”
Banerjee further stated,
“If such behavior is to be meted out to the opposition in West Bengal through violence, vandalism, and threats, then the Chief Minister has no moral right to remain in office. He should resign. This is not democracy, but political goondaism.”
Meanwhile, the BJP dismissed Abhishek Banerjee's allegations, claiming that the vandalism at his office was a drama orchestrated by the Trinamool Congress. BJP MLA from Baranagar, Sajal Ghosh, stated,
“This is all staged by the Trinamool Congress. The BJP has nothing to do with this incident. They have no political issues left, so they are doing all this to stay in the headlines. The question is, what were Trinamool workers doing in that office so early in the morning?”
A senior officer of the Kolkata Police stated,
“As soon as we received the information, we reached the scene immediately. Six people have been arrested, and the CCTV footage has been secured. The process of filing a case is underway, and the investigation is ongoing. Statements of those present in the office at the time of the incident are also being recorded.”
The Camac Street office used by Abhishek Banerjee recently came into the spotlight when officials from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation allegedly arrived to remove illegal hoardings. The Kolkata Police had filed a case against Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, and others for allegedly obstructing municipal officials and police from removing the illegal hoardings. Following this, a team from the fire department also inspected the office and found several fire safety violations.
In protest against the vandalism, a large number of Trinamool Congress workers and leaders gathered at the office on Camac Street on Thursday morning. The police are now reviewing CCTV footage to identify the vandals.