Suvendu Adhikari took a sharp jibe at Mamata Banerjee after protests in Bijpur, denying BJP involvement and urging her to wear a headset amid public slogans. The confrontation followed Banerjee’s visit to the family of Trinamool worker Birju Keot, whose mysterious death in custody has triggered demands for justice.
West Bengal BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday took a sharp jibe at former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following protests during her visit to Bijpur in North 24 Parganas district, while strongly denying allegations that BJP members were behind the demonstration.
Adhikari said he did not see any familiar BJP faces or party flags among those protesting against Banerjee. He described the incident as an expression of spontaneous public anger and rejected the former Chief Minister’s claim that BJP-backed miscreants were responsible for the attack on her convoy.
The controversy erupted on Sunday afternoon when Mamata Banerjee travelled to Bijpur to meet the family of Birju Keot, the husband of Jenny Sharma Keot, a Trinamool Congress councillor who had resigned from the Kanchrapara Municipality in North 24 Parganas.
Keot had been arrested by police over several allegations, including extortion. He died in custody on Saturday under circumstances that remain disputed. His family alleged that he had been beaten to death, while questions have been raised over the exact cause of his death.
Banerjee visited the family accompanied by two Trinamool Congress MPs. However, her visit was met with protests in the area. According to the allegations, shoes and mud were thrown towards her vehicle, while bricks and stones were also hurled at the car.
Banerjee subsequently alleged that BJP-backed miscreants were responsible for the incident. She also expressed concern over the possibility of suffering serious injuries, saying that if the windows of her vehicle had been open, she could have sustained a head injury or even lost her life.
Responding to the allegations, Adhikari said there was no evidence of BJP involvement in the protest. He pointed out that he had not seen any BJP flags or people known to him as BJP members at the scene.
Adhikari also referred to Banerjee’s security arrangements, saying that her Z-plus security cover had not been withdrawn. He said a senior officer from the Directorate of Security was present and that police personnel, including senior officers, had provided security assistance during the incident.
According to Adhikari, the protests should instead be viewed in the context of public anger surrounding the death of Birju Keot. He claimed that the deceased’s family had not invited Banerjee to join the protest and wanted the circumstances surrounding Keot’s death to be investigated.
The BJP leader said the family wanted to establish whether Keot had been beaten in custody or had died because of illness. He stressed that the family was seeking clarity and justice rather than political confrontation.
Taking a further dig at Banerjee, Adhikari said she should use a headset or noise-cancelling earphones while travelling in public because of the slogans being raised against her.
“Mamata Banerjee should wear a headset when stepping out in public. That way, she wouldn’t have to hear chants of ‘thief’,” Adhikari said.
He continued his criticism by referring to what he described as widespread public outrage against the Trinamool Congress. According to him, the slogans were a reflection of anger among sections of the public rather than a politically organised BJP campaign.
The political confrontation comes amid continuing controversy over the death of Birju Keot in custody. His family’s allegations have intensified demands for an investigation into the circumstances of his death, while political parties have traded accusations over the incident.
Later on Sunday evening, Adhikari visited Panihati in North 24 Parganas to attend a memorial meeting marking the second anniversary of the death of the doctor who was raped and murdered in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital case.
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The Bijpur confrontation has added another flashpoint to the already intense political rivalry between the Trinamool Congress and BJP in West Bengal. While Banerjee has accused BJP-backed elements of targeting her during the visit, Adhikari has rejected the allegation and maintained that the protests reflected spontaneous public anger.
The dispute over Keot’s death is now likely to remain a major political issue, with questions surrounding his custody death and demands for justice continuing to draw attention.
