As the West Bengal Assembly elections draw closer, the attacks on political leaders have picked pace. In a day of absolute mayhem, two BJP leaders including heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari who recently switched flanks from TMC and Shibaji Singha Roy, BJP District President North Kolkata were attacked. Additionally, Jakir Hossain, a TMC leader suffered serious injuries after a crude bomb was hurled his way.
As per media reports, clashes erupted early in the day on Wednesday between TMC-BJP cadre workers in Phoolbagan after BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was gheraoed allegedly by TMC party workers. The incident took place when Adhikari was on his way to meet the Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police.
“Another murderous attack on BJP leaders by TMC goons near Phoolbagan. This time it was the trio of SuvenduAdhikari, Shanku Deb and ShibajiSingha Roy, who is grievously injured in the attack. Law and order were never there and is missing now.” tweeted BJP MP from Balurghat Dr Sukanta Majumdar.
Another murderous attack on BJP leaders by TMC goons near Phoolbagan.
This time it was the trio of Suvendu Adhikari, Shanku Deb and Shibaji Singha Roy, who is grievously injured in the attack.
Law and order was never there and is missing now.
pic.twitter.com/qBG0u9JZuW— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaMajum1) February 17, 2021
However, the most tragic of the events occurred with West Bengal minister Jakir Hossain who was seriously injured after unidentified attackers hurled a crude bomb at him in Nimtita Railway Station in Murshidabad district on Wednesday night. The minister was then rushed to Jangipur Hospital and as per latest reports, he is now being shifted to a hospital in Kolkata. At least two other persons who were with Hossain have also reportedly been injured in the incident.
The videos of the bomb blast are extremely distressing and the viewers are advised to practice caution.
#LiveVisuals| Crude bombs hurled at Bengal Minister Jakir Hossain in Raghunathganj in Murshidabad. Minister with serious injuries rushed to Jangipur Hospital, now being removed to a hospital in Kolkata @ZeeNews pic.twitter.com/vlJK9BuAWz
— Pooja Mehta (@pooja_news) February 17, 2021
This is not the first time that Adhikari has been attacked. In December last year, Adhikari and other BJP party workers were attacked allegedly by TMC goons in Nandigram in East Midnapore, on their way to Janakinath Temple from Tenga.
While targeting Adhikari, the miscreants threw rocks and stones at him and his supporters. During the attack, a bus carrying BJP workers was also vandalised. Several people, including a girl child, sustained head injuries. They were then taken to the Nandigram Hospital for medical treatment. According to Suvendu Adhikari, a total of ten people were injured during the attack.
The regular attacks on BJP leader Adhikari prove that the ruling party has completely lost the plot. Adhikari was the major player of TMC and the party’s fortunes dependent on Adhikari delivering the state for Mamata. However, after he quit TMC, Mamata Banerjee’s party has been running around like a headless chicken. Such is the clout of Suvdendu Adhikari in West Bengal that Mamata Banerjee has been forced to contest the upcoming elections from two seats viz. Bhowanipur and Nandigram, with the latter being Adhikari’s stronghold as he is the MLA.
Read more: Mamata will be contesting on two seats and losing both for 2 very different reasons
TMC has become synonymous with the politics of removing opposition leaders by using violent and at times fatal means. Several BJP leaders and activists have lost their lives battling TMC’s autocratic rule in the state. However, with only a few months to go for the elections, a Modi wave is seemingly sweeping the state and it looks certain that BJP will be unfurling its saffron flag in the state.
