Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday, 1 June 2025 dismissed the arrest of six individuals in connection with the attack on party MP Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur, Kolkata, calling the police action a mere formality and alleging that the real perpetrators were active workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The incident has sharpened political tensions in West Bengal, with both parties trading accusations over the violence.

What Happened in Sonarpur

Banerjee, the nephew of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a sitting Member of Parliament, was visiting the family of a deceased Trinamool worker in Sonarpur on Saturday when he was heckled by a group of protesters. Some individuals reportedly threw eggs and brick fragments at him, while slogans were raised against him. Protesters also allegedly attempted to punch him even as his security personnel tried to shield him.

TMC Calls Arrests 'Just for Show'

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy alleged that those taken into custody were not the principal accused and accused authorities of shielding the alleged masterminds. 'This is just for the show. The main perpetrators were active BJP workers; no action has been taken. Just as the police did not take any preventive steps to maintain peace when Abhishek went to Sonarpur, similarly, the police are not taking any steps to arrest the culprits. As you saw, Abhishek was beaten all over his body, and no sufficient action has been taken,' Roy said.

Roy also raised questions about whether the central security cover assigned to Banerjee as a sitting MP would accompany him during such public engagements. 'The Central Force, I do not know if they will accompany him. Central Forces were meant for protecting BJP leaders during TMC's rule. Whether they will be accompanying Abhishek Banerjee is a matter of speculation, I don't know,' he added.

BJP Denies Involvement, Condemns Attack

West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya strongly condemned the violence while rejecting any link between his party and the incident. 'The Bharatiya Janata Party does not support any kind of violence. What happened with Abhishek Banerjee yesterday is not acceptable in any civilised society. No one supports it, and the Bharatiya Janata Party has no connection with it whatsoever,' Bhattacharya said. He also suggested that the violence may have been intra-party in nature, adding, 'If Trinamool attacks Trinamool, what can we do?'

BJP leaders had earlier argued that the incident reflected growing public anger against the TMC — a claim Roy flatly rejected. 'No, this is bogus. The TMC also got 2.60 crore votes in the state. It is only BJP goons and ruffians, provoked by their state leaders, who are carrying out these attacks,' Roy said.

Other Political Voices

Shiv Sena spokesperson Raju Waghmare characterised the episode as an outpouring of suppressed public sentiment rather than a coordinated political act. 'This is not a new political trend; it is a reaction from the people. These are emotions that had been suppressed under the TMC government. It reflects public anger against TMC's alleged injustice and atrocities,' Waghmare said.

What Comes Next

With six arrests made and both sides contesting the narrative, the Sonarpur incident is set to remain a flashpoint in Bengal's already charged political climate. The question of adequate security for senior TMC leaders during ground-level visits, and whether investigators will pursue the alleged masterminds, will be closely watched in the coming days.