Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee was denied admission at a second private hospital in central Kolkata on Saturday evening, 30 May, hours after he was heckled and assaulted at Sonarpur in South 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal. The hospital at Minto Park issued a medical certificate stating 'no admission required', citing the absence of major internal injuries and Banerjee's fully conscious state.

What Happened at the Hospitals

After being escorted out of Sonarpur by security forces, Banerjee was first taken to a private hospital near the East Metropolitan Bypass. Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister, arrived there shortly and alleged that the facility was not providing adequate treatment to her nephew.

Banerjee was subsequently transferred to the second private hospital in Minto Park, central Kolkata, where he was taken to the Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) for examination. Following a thorough assessment, the hospital authorities concluded that admission was not necessary and prescribed medicines, including a digestive tablet.

Mamata Banerjee's Allegations

On learning of the second refusal, Mamata Banerjee, who was present at the Minto Park hospital, alleged that both facilities had come under pressure from the state administration. She told reporters: 'There was pressure from a deputy commissioner of Kolkata Police not to admit Abhishek. First, they won the elections through forgery and hooliganism. After that, they assaulted Abhishek. And now finally, they have pressurised so that he was not properly treated.'

The Kolkata Police and the state administration had not issued any public response to these allegations at the time of reporting.

Rahul Gandhi's Assurance

Mamata Banerjee also claimed that Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called her and assured full cooperation in arranging treatment for Banerjee at any hospital outside West Bengal. The development signals cross-party concern over the incident, even as the two parties remain political rivals in the state.

Where Things Stand

By the time of filing, Abhishek Banerjee had returned to his residence on Kalighat Road in south Kolkata, in the vicinity of Mamata Banerjee's own home. The assault at Sonarpur and the subsequent hospital episodes have sharpened political tensions in the state, with the Trinamool Congress pointing to what it describes as a coordinated attempt to deny Banerjee both security and medical care. The incident is expected to trigger further political fallout in the days ahead.