May 31, 2026
Abhishek is seriously injured; I am stunned at the hospitals’ attitudes: Mamata Banerjee
On Saturday, while visiting the family of a Trinamool Congress worker who had been killed in post-poll violence in Sonarpur, All India Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and Leader of the Party in Lok Sabha Abhishek Banerjee was assaulted by BJP workers. He sustained injuries to his neck and back.
After completing the visit, he was taken to Apollo Hospital in Kolkata, but the hospital refused to admit him. Party Chairperson Mamata Banerjee went there to take stock of the situation.
Standing outside the premises, she told reporters, “Hospitals are being pressured by BJP to not admit Abhishek. The police, too, have threatened hospitals to not admit him.”
He was then taken to Belle Vue Clinic, but it, too, refused to admit him after providing initial treatment.
There, Mamata Banerjee again spoke to reporters. “They [BJP] are giving threats. After we brought him here, the hospital staff took him to the ITU. They conducted some tests.
“I was sitting with the hospital’s top official, Mr Tandon. A phone call came. The DC (South) was on the other end. Then he was refused admission. If there was no need, why was he kept in Belle Vue’s ITU?
“When we took him to Apollo earlier, he was refused admission there, too. I don’t know what is happening. Do I live in a country where you can be beaten up and then not be admitted to a hospital?
“Abhishek has blood stains all over his body. The doctors didn’t want to discharge him, but they were threatened. The DC (South) phoned and threatened.
“Outsiders were hired to attack Abhishek. The attack was instigated by the police in Sonarpur. This is a conspiracy to kill Abhishek. I have never seen this type of government.
“In protest, Trinamool workers will take to the streets tomorrow. My programme is on Rani Rashmoni Avenue on 2nd July.”
She added, “There are welts all over his body. Look at the way stones were thrown at him! He could have died on the spot had the locals not given him the helmet.
“There’s a pool of blood in the middle of his chest, all around his chest. He has blood stains all over his body. I saw the stains on his chest. They are there on his arms and legs too. He is feeling nauseous and dizzy. His blood pressure is fluctuating.
“The doctors didn’t want to discharge him in this condition, but they were forced to. The authorities said they would lose their jobs otherwise.
“On the doctors’ advice, his treatment will take place at his Kalighat home. We have sent him home with his family doctors while on a saline drip.”
Mamata Banerjee also took aim at the CID for putting up a notice on her house. “Are they [CID] joking? Playing games? What is the CID up to, really? Today, they went to my house to put up a notice. I have seen the CID roam around like cowards. I don’t want them to be cowards. I want them to be strong. But I have seen what they used to do.”
The chairperson also said that [Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha] Rahul Gandhi had phoned her to enquire about Abhishek’s health. Rahul told her that if she needed anything, she should let him know.
The Congress leader also offered to help take Abhishek to Hyderabad or elsewhere if necessary. However, Mamata Banerjee stated that the decision on whether to take him outside Kolkata or not will be taken only after consulting his doctor.
On Sunday morning, Trinamool Congress’ MP and Chief Whip in Lok Sabha Kalyan Banerjee was also attacked while on his way to submit a deputation at Chanditala Police Station. The incident occurred a short distance from the station.
On this issue, Mamata Banerjee said, “I strongly condemn the suppression of dissent in Bengal and the BJP’s violent politics. The country is witnessing an alarming level of political bankruptcy and violence.
“After the cowardly attack on the Leader of the House in Lok Sabha, Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday, an attack was carried out on our Chief Whip in Lok Sabha, Kalyan Banerjee, on Sunday.
“Targeting Opposition representatives one after another with such attacks is extremely unfortunate, inhumane and a direct blow to democracy. I strongly condemn and protest the continuous violent behaviour by the BJP.”
The national Opposition parties also strongly condemned both the incidents. Besides the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, leaders such as Mehbooba Mufti also spoke out against the BJP. They said that the saffron party is continually undermining democratic values and attempting to suppress dissenting voices.
