Mamata meets injured BJP MP Khagen Murmu after Jalpaiguri assault

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday visited BJP MP Khagen Murmu at a hospital in Siliguri. Mumru is under treatment at the hospital after being injured in a mob attack on a BJP delegation, of which he was a part, in Jalpaiguri on Monday.

Mamata visited the injured BJP leader despite the saffron party baming the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the attack on its MP.

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Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Banerjee said, “There is nothing serious. I have seen the report. He is under observation because he has high diabetes. There is an injury behind his ears.”

“I have received all the details. His blood sugar is high and needs to be controlled. I wished him a speedy recovery,” she added.

Murmu was allegedly attacked by locals while he was on a visit to flood-affected areas in Jalpaiguri to oversee relief and rescue operations.

Videos circulating on social media show an injured Murmu sitting in a car with his forehead bleeding. The windshield of the car was also broken.

West Bengal MLA Shankar Ghosh, who was also part of the BJP delegation, claimed he too was attacked.

After the attack, the BJP had squarely blamed Banerjee’s party for the assault. The TMC, however, hit back, saying the saffron party was using the disaster for publicity.

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs to forward a ‘Factual Note’ in the matter from the West Bengal government within three days.

Earlier on Tuesday, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose warned of strict action if the culprits involved in the alleged attack on the BJP delegation in Jalpaiguri are not arrested within 24 hours.

Speaking to reporters, Bose termed the attack on the elected representatives of the BJP “dastardly, shocking and benumbing.”

“This was something that should never have happened in a democracy…,” the governor said, adding, “This cannot be allowed to continue in an enlightened state like Bengal.”

Accusing the West Bengal Police of “not doing their duty”, the Bengal Governor said, “Police are supposed to uphold the Constitution of India and the rule of law. But they are conniving and not doing their duty.”