A viral video showing former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slapping a Trinamool Congress (TMC) party worker has triggered a political storm in Kolkata, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre going on the offensive and TMC leaders closing ranks around her. The incident occurred on Thursday, 9 July, during a TMC protest rally against the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur.

Trinamool's Defence

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy was among the first to speak up for Banerjee, framing the act as a gesture of maternal affection rather than aggression. 'It is being claimed that Mamata Banerjee slapped someone, but even if she did, it was done affectionately,' Roy said. He added: 'They (Trinamool Congress workers) are all like her own children. She can do that. The media's job is to portray us negatively. We have already said what we wanted to.'

BJP and NDA Hit Back

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) wasted no time in attacking Banerjee over the footage. BJP MP Dinesh Sharma said: 'Now Mamata Banerjee wants violence, whereas the BJP and the government want to ensure that no violence is encouraged. Obviously, whoever indulges in violence will be punished. Therefore, the Trinamool Congress should also refrain from making any provocative statements.'

Janata Dal (United) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan added a sharper edge to the criticism: 'Mamata Banerjee is still not ready to change. People who treat political parties as their personal property are ultimately rejected by the public. If Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress leadership do not refrain from such actions even now, the party will face even greater difficulties in the future.'

TMC Alleges Worker Assault, Blames BJP

Even as the video controversy played out, TMC doubled down on its own allegations of violence against its cadre during the protest march. Saugata Roy squarely blamed the BJP, calling such conduct the latter's 'culture.' 'All the goons and hooligans have come together. Trinamool Congress, despite being the Opposition, is not allowed to hold a rally. Despite that, we took out our procession,' he said.

Roy further claimed that 41 TMC workers were injured in the clashes and were receiving treatment at PG Hospital and SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. The BJP has not responded directly to these injury figures.

Context: Baruipur Case and Protest Rally

The flashpoint was a TMC-organised rally protesting the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur, a constituency in the outskirts of Kolkata. The rally descended into chaos, during which the video of Banerjee's alleged slap was filmed and subsequently circulated widely online. This is not the first time a TMC protest event has been marred by internal disorder — the incident adds to a pattern of turbulence within the party's street-level mobilisation efforts. Notably, Banerjee's TMC is currently the principal Opposition in West Bengal under BJP rule, and the Baruipur case has become a politically charged flashpoint between the two parties.

With both sides trading accusations of incitement and violence, the row is set to intensify as the Baruipur case continues to draw public and political scrutiny.