Abhishek Banerjee Hospitalized After Sonarpur Attack: Head Injury, Nausea Confirmed

 

Abhishek Banerjee Hospitalized Following Sonarpur Incident Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee was hospitalized after a protest and vandalism incident in Sonarpur. He was shifted from a hospital near Bypass to a private hospital near Minto Park for further treatment and

 observation.Eyewitnesses reported that Abhishek was carried on a stretcher from the ambulance and taken directly to the emergency department of the hospital. Security around him has been increased following the incident.Sovan Chatterjee: "He Has a Head Injury and Nausea"Former Mayor of Kolkata, Sovan Chatterjee, addressed the media outside Minto Park hospital. He was with Abhishek in the

 ambulance during the transfer from the bypass-side hospital.Speaking to reporters,

 Sovan said, "He has a slight injury on his head. There are injuries in various places on his body. He is feeling nauseous. Doctors will be able to give the correct details after the medical examination."Sovan Chatterjee confirmed he accompanied Abhishek throughout the journey from the first hospital to Minto Park.Disclaimer: This is based on Sovan Chatterjee's statement. Official medical bulletin from the hospital is awaited for detailed information.Arvind Kejriwal Condemns Attack, Questions Law & OrderAAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal strongly condemned the Sonarpur incident targeting Abhishek Banerjee. In a post on X, 

he stated that violence has no place in democracy and differing political views must be respected.Kejriwal also raised concerns over the law and order situation in West Bengal. He questioned, "Where is law and order in the state? Democracy is under threat in West Bengal."What Happened in Sonarpur?The incident occurred during Abhishek Banerjee's scheduled program in Sonarpur. A group of protesters turned violent, leading to vandalism and chaos. Abhishek reportedly sustained injuries during the commotion.Police intervened and brought the situation under control. An investigation into the incident has been initiated by local authorities.

- Today, he was on his way to the home of a party worker—who had been killed in an incident of post-election violence in Sonarpur—to stand in solidarity with the bereaved family. At that moment, Abhishek Banerjee was subjected to an attack that was organized, premeditated, and conspiratorial in nature. The Bharatiya Janata Party and its administration bear full responsibility for this incident.

 Outsiders were brought in and mobilized at the location to launch a brutal assault. Stones were hurled—large, heavy stones. It was sheer luck that he happened to be wearing a helmet at the time. He was subjected to physical assault. He already suffers from a pre-existing eye condition; yet, despite enduring such an attack, he proceeded to visit the home of his late colleague, though he was left physically shattered by the ordeal.

 No police security arrangements had been put in place at the site. He had provided prior intimation regarding his visit; nevertheless, no police protection was provided. The manner in which the mob was positioned to launch the attack—while chanting slogans of "Jai Shri Ram"—is deeply alarming. Subsequently, when he was taken to Apollo Hospital, he faced an extremely distressing experience. He was kept waiting in that injured state for a prolonged period. It is alleged that hospital staff claimed they required "permission" to treat him—but permission from whom? When an injured individual arrives seeking medical attention, what grounds could there possibly be for requiring "permission" to treat them? We understand that the hospital authorities are currently under immense pressure.

 From there, he was transferred to Belle Vue Clinic, where he is currently undergoing treatment in the ITU. While the medical team is attending to him, continuous pressure is reportedly being exerted on Belle Vue—emanating from the upper echelons of the police administration—insisting that he cannot be admitted and must be discharged immediately. We are witnessing a truly appalling situation unfold. When an injured person seeks admission to a hospital, why should that hospital subsequently face allegations of administrative pressure to turn them away? What exactly is going on here?

The manner in which Abhishek Banerjee was attacked today lays bare the true state of law and order in the region and reveals the dangerous depths to which vindictive politics can sink. If our party's top leaders and functionaries attempt to meet with their workers—and if news of such visits leaks out in advance—is this the manner in which they are to be subjected to organized, potentially fatal assaults?

 In effect, what took place today was an attempt to assassinate Abhishek Banerjee. Amidst this chaotic situation, several individuals stepped forward to try and protect him—including a couple of journalists. We extend our sincere gratitude to those journalists; upon witnessing him being struck on the head and subjected to a life-threatening assault, they stepped forward as conscientious citizens to help save Abhishek Banerjee's life.

 Regarding this incident that has occurred, every individual involved will be identified. Why was there no police presence? On whose orders were the police absent? Just a few months ago, these very Members of Parliament were being dispatched to various corners of the globe as ambassadors of India. One of those MPs is Bengal’s own Abhishek Banerjee. Yet today, as he travels, he is being subjected to attacks. The fact that there was no police presence there for an extended period proves that this was a premeditated act—just as the attackers were organized in advance, security personnel were deliberately withheld.

- We are not placing the blame on the hospital; however, the hospital was unable to provide medical treatment because pressure was being exerted from higher authorities. Our Honorable Party Chairperson, Mamata Banerjee, has already addressed this matter with you. Furthermore, even after he was admitted to the ITU here, pressure was applied by the administration to discharge him immediately, insisting that he could not be kept there. A person was assaulted in this manner—an attempt was made on his life—and he has sustained an eye injury; is this not to be thoroughly investigated? It is for the doctors and the hospital to determine the appropriate course of treatment; why should there be administrative interference in such matters? We strongly condemn this.

We have witnessed this before; we harbor very bitter memories of the past. After India's former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, was defeated in the elections and ousted from power, his security cover was drastically reduced. Who was responsible for that reduction? It was the V.P. Singh government—a government whose "right hand" and "left hand" were, respectively, the BJP and the CPM. And it was precisely because his security had been curtailed that he was brutally assassinated. We are not drawing a direct parallel here, but such precedents do exist in our history. The withdrawal of Abhishek Banerjee’s security cover, the failure to provide any protection despite his publicly announced itinerary, and the act of leaving him at the mercy of attackers for a prolonged period—all these factors point toward a premeditated conspiracy. The party will take appropriate action regarding this matter at the right time. We appeal to the police: this is a matter strictly between a patient and his doctors; we request that you refrain from interfering in it.