Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari stirred controversy on Friday with his comments seemingly mocking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's injury. Banerjee sustained a gash on her forehead on Thursday evening, requiring hospitalisation for a few hours, as informed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Addressing a rally in West Bengal's Khejuri, Adhikari insinuated about the declining strength of the Trinamool Congress. Without directly naming anyone, he remarked, "The top leader felt dizzy and suffered a fall. But the fall of TMC has just begun. It has started from the party supremo and will eventually percolate to the grassroots level"
Sharing a purported clip of the remarks, the TMC posted on X, "@BJP4Bengal's shameless and misogynistic leader @SuvenduWB crossed all limits of decency today by mocking the only FEMALE CM in India! His inhuman remark targeting Smt. @mamataoffical's unfortunate injury proves that @BJP4India is a breeding ground of insensitive people who are not fit to exist in civil society. Our message is loud and clear, these antics have no place in Bengal and Adhikari should apologise immediately!".
Adhikari's comments drew sharp condemnation from the ruling TMC, with leaders accusing the BJP of harbouring an anti-women mindset. West Bengal Women and Child Development Minister Shashi Panja demanded an apology, stating, "Such remarks against the only woman chief minister of the country reflect the anti-women mindset of the BJP", as quoted by PTI
West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya remarked that the verbal attack against the Chief Minister reflects the misogynist mindset of the BJP.
The TMC announced plans for a protest rally in West Bengal against Suvendu Adhikari's remarks on Mamata Banerjee's injury, scheduled for tomorrow, news agency ANI reported.
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Bengal BJP Demands Probe Into Mamata Banerjee's Injury, TMC Says 'Don't Politicise Matter'
The BJP demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's fall at her residence, suggesting she may have been pushed from behind, a claim that drew a sharp rebuke from the ruling TMC, urging against politicising the issue. The controversy arose after the director of state-run SSKM Hospital, Manimoy Bandyopadhyay, initially stated that Banerjee had fallen due to a push from behind, but later clarified that he meant she may have felt a sensation of being pushed.
Banerjee, 69, sustained injuries to her forehead and nose during the incident at her Kalighat residence in South Kolkata on Thursday evening.
Senior BJP leader and MP Dilip Ghosh emphasised the need for a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the truth behind Banerjee's fall. He cited the conflicting statements made by the SSKM Hospital director and stressed that it was the right of every citizen of Bengal to know the details of what had occurred.
In response, senior TMC leader and West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja urged against politicising the matter, highlighting that feeling unwell and falling due to a perceived push is common in medical science.
"When you feel unwell at times you tend to fall and have this feeling that someone has pushed you. It is very normal in medical science. The doctor later clarified what he meant and we all have seen the pictures of the chief minister bleeding, so we would request not to politicise the matter," she said, as quoted by PTI.
The initial statement by Bandyopadhyay, suggesting that Banerjee had been pushed, led to confusion and speculation regarding the cause of her fall. However, on Friday morning, Bandyopadhyay clarified that it was a sensation of being pushed from behind that resulted in Banerjee's fall, reiterating that the hospital's role was to provide treatment, which had been done promptly.