New Delhi, Jun 30 (UNI)

Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that the rule of law in West Bengal has been eroded by politically motivated actions targeting opposition leaders, workers and ordinary citizens.

In a post on social media platform X, the All India Trinamool Congress general secretary claimed that "the rule of law in West Bengal has been reduced to a casualty of BJP's politics" and accused central agencies and BJP workers of orchestrating a sustained campaign against the ruling party's supporters.

"State agencies are picking up citizens without notice. BJP cadres are attacking AITC workers, parading them with ropes tied around their waists, hurling stones and causing fatal injuries. BJP hooligans have taken the law into their own hands and are unleashing violence across different parts of West Bengal every day," Banerjee alleged.

He further claimed that "Supreme Court guidelines and basic human rights are being violated in broad daylight," accusing the BJP of misusing investigative agencies and legal processes to suppress political opponents.
Alleging attempts to destabilise the opposition, Banerjee said political parties were being weakened through coercive means. "Political parties are being broken. Bank accounts are being frozen. MLAs are being pressured, threatened and booked in false cases for refusing to defect. Sitting MLAs who refuse to bow down are being implicated overnight and continue to be in jail," he alleged.

Questioning the BJP's political approach, Banerjee asked, "If the BJP truly won Bengal on the strength of the people's mandate, why is it so afraid? Why this crackdown? Why this desperate attempt to silence every voice of dissent?"

The Trinamool Congress leader also targeted the BJP over corruption allegations, claiming that "this is the only state where the present Chief Minister was caught on camera allegedly taking bribe." He, however, did not identify the state or the chief minister in his post.

Referring to recent allegations relating to donations made to the Ram Temple, Banerjee accused the BJP of betraying the faith it professes to protect.

"A party that rose to power by fanning religious hatred and exploiting faith for political gain now stands accused of misappropriating donations meant for the Ram Mandir. Can there be a greater betrayal of the very faith it claims to protect?" he said.

Appealing to the public, Banerjee alleged that the BJP was seeking to establish "an opposition-free state and an opposition-free country."

"The honest and unflinching are sent to jail, while the corrupt compromise and join the BJP. The BJP does not want your vote. It wants an opposition-free state and an opposition-free country, where citizens lose the right to protest, dissent, question and criticise," he said.

Banerjee further alleged that "Bengal has been turned into a police state," while asserting that "in a democracy, people are supreme, not any political party," and adding that "India is watching and everything will be remembered."
The BJP has repeatedly rejected similar allegations levelled by the Trinamool Congress, maintaining that investigative agencies function independently and that legal action against political leaders is based on evidence rather than political considerations. Banerjee's remarks come amid continuing political friction between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress in the aftermath of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

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