Abhishek demands arrest of Chorbagan puja committee office-bearers over stampede deaths

    Kolkata, Oct 29 (PTI) TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday demanded the arrest of top office-bearers of the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsav committee over the deaths of 19 people in a stampede, asking West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to follow "rajdharma" before targeting political opponents.

    "Arrest them. Arrest the top office-bearers of the committee, not just small fries. Follow 'rajdharma' first, and then point fingers at others," Banerjee said, targeting Adhikari.

    He alleged that BJP MLA Vijay Ojha was the committee's chairman, BJP district president Tamaghna Ghosh its chief adviser, and Debadwip Adhikari, the chief minister's nephew, its chief patron.

    "Your family has people accused of corruption, and also a nephew accused in connection with the deaths of 19 people. Both uncle and nephew should be prepared to go to jail in the coming days," he said, using the "kaka-bhaipo" (uncle-nephew) jibe against the chief minister and his family.

    Banerjee also warned police officers against allegedly framing Trinamool Congress workers in false cases to please the CM.

    "I will identify the names of the police officers who are acting at his (Adhikari's) behest. I will record their names. Those who are trying to please the chief minister and secure good postings will see the consequences in two years," he said.

    Alleging that several Trinamool workers had been implicated in false cases, Banerjee said no police officer responsible for such actions would be spared if his party returned to power.

    He also accused an IPS officer in Paschim Medinipur of targeting Trinamool workers despite having earlier congratulated him on the party's expected electoral victory.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)