Hansda’s vehicle involved in the convoy was damaged in the attack. (Image: ANI)
Abhishek, who has Z plus security, led a road show in Jhargram’s Binpur and Gopiballavpur as part of his Trinamool Nabojovar (New wave in Trinamool) campaign
The vehicle of West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda was attacked in Paschim Medinipur district on Friday after members of the Kurmi community allegedly pelted stones at senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee’s convoy in which he was traveling, officials said. Had been
The incident took place in Salboni where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to attend a party function on Saturday.
West Bengal | In Jhargram, the convoy of State Minister Birbaha Hansda was attacked by the supporters of Kurmi tribe. Stones were pelted at the minister’s convoy after TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee’s convoy passed through the area. Further details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/MddMKr6C4q– ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2023
Abhishek, who has Z plus security, led a road show at Binpur and Gopiballavpur in Jhargram as part of his Trinamool campaign. A party leader said that after the rally, he was passing through Salboni when members of the Kurmi community gathered on both sides of the road, protesting their demand for ST status.
As their car proceeded, they allegedly started pelting stones at the roadshow. “Hansda’s vehicle, which was part of the convoy, was damaged in the attack,” the leader said.
Officials said that a large number of police forces have been sent to the spot to control the situation.
It was not immediately known whether anyone has been arrested.
Condemning the incident, Hansda said that violence can never be a form of democratic protest.
“It can never be a fight for the rights of any community. Those who pelted stones are all outsiders and are using the guise of being members of a particular community to justify the violence.”
Members of the Kurmi community had met Banerjee in Bankura on Tuesday and urged her to look into their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The TMC MP from Diamond Harbor heard them patiently and said it was appropriate to hold a democratic protest for their demands.
Last week, the house of BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh at Kharagpur in West Medinipur was vandalized allegedly by members of a Kurmi organization over his comments against the community.
“TMC is fueling this movement. When my house was attacked, they cherished it, now they are facing the brunt of it.”
The Kurmi community, which is currently classified as an OBC, protested for several days in April demanding ST status in various districts of the state, including Dakshin Dinajpur, Purulia, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur.
CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said the TMC leadership should introspect as to why such protests are taking place in the state.
He alleged that there is anger among the people on many issues.
“It is unfortunate that despite heavy security arrangements, such protests are taking place,” he said.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,