Can Any Threat Stop Abhishek Banerjee After Chopper Incident?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kolkata, Jan 6 (NationPress) Trinamool Congress All-India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee stated on Tuesday that no level of threat, intimidation, or conspiracy will hinder him from fulfilling his scheduled commitments. This statement was made following the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) denying permission for his chopper to depart from Kolkata.
Banerjee disclosed that after discussing the matter with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and receiving assistance from the Jharkhand government, an alternative chopper was secured, allowing him to arrive in Rampurhat, located in the Birbhum district for his ‘Abar Jitbe Bangla’ (Bengal Will Win Again) campaign rally.
Upon arriving in Birbhum, Banerjee immediately headed to Rampurhat to speak to the crowd.
"I was meant to be here sooner and I apologize for the delay. Although the election dates remain unannounced, the BJP has initiated conspiracies to prevent my participation in political events. The DGCA did not approve my chopper for 11 a.m. today, hence I was unable to fly," Banerjee remarked.
The Trinamool Congress MP added, "The BJP believes these tactics will deter me, but I am ten times more determined than the BJP. Since my chopper was not cleared, I reached out to Hemant Soren and arranged for another one. I was resolute that, regardless of the circumstances, I would reach the venue to address even if only ten people attended. No level of threat, intimidation, or conspiracy can keep me from my public engagements."
Banerjee again criticized the Election Commission for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal, claiming that it harasses notable figures.
"They have issued a hearing notice to Amartya Sen, a Nobel laureate. The individual who has brought prestige to our country – Amartya Sen – is facing a notice for the SIR hearing," Banerjee stated.
He continued, "Dev, a luminary of Bengali cinema, has received a hearing notice. Mohammed Shami, who represented India in the Cricket World Cup, has also received a notice. This is a scheme to marginalize them by sending out notices."
Banerjee accused the BJP, with the assistance of the Election Commission, of attempting to remove legitimate voters from the electoral list. "The BJP aims to unmap Bengalis from West Bengal, but the people of Bengal will unmap the BJP for their harassment and torture. The citizens of Bengal will not endure the BJP's dadagiri," he declared.
In a separate engagement, Banerjee visited Sunali Khatun at Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital, who had given birth to a son just a day prior.
On December 6 last year, Sunali Khatun returned to India, six months after being deported to Bangladesh. In June, while pregnant, she was forcibly sent back on the suspicion of being a resident of the neighboring country. Following a ruling from the Supreme Court, she was allowed to return to India with her eight-year-old son.
At her request, Banerjee named the baby 'Apon' (One's own). "I promised I would meet her. Today, I fulfilled that promise. She has endured a lot in recent months. Yesterday, she welcomed a baby boy. She asked me to name him. I told them they should choose, but at her request, I named him Apon, as he is our own. The BJP had previously labeled her an outsider," Banerjee explained outside the hospital.
Afterward, Banerjee prayed at the renowned Kali temple in Tarapith.