West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating the attacks on her nephew and Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and other TMC leaders in Tripura.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the injured TMC leaders at the state-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, Mamata said that Shah was behind the incident as Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb would not dare to order such an attack.
“Without Shah’s active involvement such attacks would not have been possible. The attacks took place in front of the Tripura Police at Shah’s behest. The Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb will not dare to order such an attack,” said Mamata.
She further alleged that the car carrying TMC’s youth leaders Jaya Dutta, Debangshu Bhattcharya and Sudip Raha was not only pelted with stones and its windshield was smashed, but even shots were fired at it.
The Chief Minister said while Raha sustained a serious head injury, Dutta got hit in the face with shrapnel during the attack. “ Even then they were denied medical treatment for 36 hours and not even given water to drink. The barbaric BJP regime in Tripura subjected them to inhuman treatment,” said Mamata.
She also said that the BJP Government in Tripura issued instructions not to allow TMC leaders to book flight tickets or render helicopters and aircraft. The Chief Minister alleged that Abhishek’s life was in danger as every time he boards a flight five to six seats near his seat are booked to place goons near him.
“Abhishek’s convoy was attacked on August 2 during his visit to Tripura. If his car was not bullet proof, his skull would have been smashed,” said Mamata.
Accusing the BJP of running an anarchic rule in Tripura, Assam and Uttar Pradesh, Mamata said that earlier TMC delegations were prevented from meeting people affected by the NRC in Assam and family members of rape victim at Hathras in Uttaar Pradesh.
“The BJP leaders give lectures on democracy in West Bengal but show their true colours in states where they are in power,” said Mamata. She also urged students to protest against the attack on TMC’s youth leaders in Tripura.