Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the ruling BJP government after the attack on her nephew and Trinamool Congress's All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, stating the BJP leaders threatened doctors against admitting Abhishek to the hospital after he was attacked on Saturday.
Banerjee was roughed up by locals when he visited Sonarpur town of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal on Saturday to meet families of post-poll violence victims, police said.
The hospital authorities said they were receiving 'threat calls' from various police quarters. "I am very shocked and saddened by the behaviour of the BJP government. They have not even been in power for a month. They are threatening all the hospital and nursing home authorities so that Abhishek Banerjee is not admitted to the hospital,” she alleged.
She added that Abhishek returned home to be treated by family doctors. “We have sent him (Abhishek) home with the family doctors after he was given saline. I don't know what is happening. I live in this country where they won't even allow treatment after almost killing him?," the former CM added.
Regarding his condition, Mamta said there were marks all over his body. “He was stoned and could have died on the spot if the locals had not given him the helmet. There was blood all over his body," she said. “He was vomiting and was dizzy. His blood pressure is fluctuating. The doctors didn’t want him to leave the hospital, but they had to discharge him as they were forced to. Otherwise, they would lose their jobs," said Mamata, adding that the hospital authorities were threatened in front of her.
"The doctors who examined him observed multiple injuries and advised urgent medical investigations. According to the medical assessment, he sustained multiple blunt injuries to the face, back, chest, and neck," she said.
She added that doctors advised X-rays and scans to rule out fractures, internal bleeding and other complications, including possible injury to internal organs.
Banerjee alleged that the incident could have had far more serious consequences. "I have been informed that had a helmet not been placed on his head at the crucial moment, the consequences could have been fatal," she said, claiming that Abhishek suffered injuries to his chest and rib area due to stone-pelting and physical assault.
Meanwhile, INDI Alliance leaders rallied to condemn the attack on Abhishek. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has condemned the attack, stating that the attack on an MP is not just an attack on a person but an attack on the people who elected him and on the collective tradition of democracy. Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has also condemned the Sonarpur incident. He raised questions about the law and order situation in West Bengal.
