"Political differences can never justify violence": Mallikarjun Kharge targets BJP over attack on TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee

Banerjee was attacked during his visit to Sonarpur to meet the post-poll violence victims' families.

Terming the alleged attack on Banerjee shocking, Kharge, in a post on X, said, "Strongly condemn the shocking attack on MP Shri Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur, as he went to meet the families affected by post-poll violence in the state. The deliberate lack of adequate police protection for a prominent Opposition leader speaks volumes about the BJP's politics of vendetta and persecution The Government of West Bengal and the Union Government must ensure security for all Opposition leaders and take immediate steps to prevent such attacks."

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also condemned the incident and alleged a conspiracy behind the lack of police arrangements.

"By orchestrating a murderous attack on Abhishek Banerjee, a key leader of the Trinamool Congress in Bengal, the anarchic BJP government in Bengal has proven that the BJP is capable of nothing but hate-filled, negative, violent politics. Even in such a sensitive environment, the absence of police arrangements points to a major conspiracy. Utterly condemnable!" Akhilesh Yadav said on X.

The Trinamool Congress alleged that party leader Abhishek Banerjee was "lynched and attacked by a few BJP supporters" while he had gone to meet the family of "a person murdered by BJP" with the TMC general secretary also alleging an attempt "to kill" him. (ANI)