All India Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad on Monday, 17 August announced he would apply for a licensed pistol for self-defence, citing what he described as frequent egg attacks on Trinamool Congress leaders allegedly carried out by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadres in West Bengal. The Bardhaman-Durgapur MP made the remarks while speaking to reporters during a visit to his parliamentary constituency.

What Kirti Azad Said

'Everyone has the right to self-defence. Given these circumstances, I am now forced to apply for arms licences to procure legal firearms for safety and security. I choose a pistol for protection. We too have the right to protect ourselves,' Azad said. The former cricketer and member of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team linked the firearms comment to what he called the BJP government's failure on welfare schemes. 'They stopped giving eggs in schools. Now people are being beaten with eggs. We are also taking a pistol licence for our own protection,' he added.

The Egg Attack Context

The 'egg attacks' Azad referenced have a specific political backdrop in West Bengal. Following the change of government in the state after the recent Assembly elections, a large number of Trinamool Congress leaders, former ministers, and councillors were arrested by police on various charges — including extortion, assault, molestation, and intimidation. In several of these instances, members of the public threw eggs at the arrested Trinamool leaders as they were escorted by police, with crowds chanting slogans labelling them 'thieves.' Protesters have since dubbed the practice 'egg therapy.' Azad, however, attributed the attacks to BJP cadres rather than spontaneous public anger.

BJP's Sharp Retort

BJP's Durgapur Purba MLA Chandra Sekhar Banerjee responded sharply to Azad's firearms remark. 'If he talks about keeping firearms, etc., we will take him across Bihar,' Banerjee said — a pointed reference to Azad's roots in the neighbouring state. The exchange reflects the deepening political hostility between the two parties in Bengal following the government transition.

Azad Targets Rebel Trinamool Faction and BJP Government

Azad also trained his sights on Ritabrata Banerjee, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly who heads a rebel faction of Trinamool MLAs. 'We know what Ritabrata did, what he said on the phone, what he did under whose pressure,' Azad said, without elaborating. He went on to criticise the new BJP administration in West Bengal, saying: 'The situation in Bengal is very bad. There is no such situation even in Africa. There, pirates roam the sea. And here, pirates and robbers roam everywhere in the city, house, and street.'

Constituency Visit and What's Next

Azad's remarks came during an active day in Bardhaman-Durgapur, where he visited multiple locations and held a meeting with party members in the evening. He is scheduled to attend further programmes on Tuesday. He indicated that after Durga Puja, Trinamool Congress plans to launch a fresh street campaign. The pistol licence application, if pursued, would mark an unusual step for a sitting MP and is likely to draw further political attention in the days ahead.