KOLKATA: A day after the murder of Suvendu Adhikari's aide Chandranath Rath, senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal appealed for calm and restraint on Thursday. Calling the killing heartbreaking, a visibly distraught Adhikari, who arrived at Barasat Medical College late Thursday, said, "Politicians often depend on key people who are not involved in politics."
Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, alleged that the state had witnessed "politics of revenge." He added, "The BJP is not jumping to conclusions immediately. The swearing-in ceremony is due in a few days. We will ensure the killers are punished."
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, who accompanied Adhikari at the hospital, confirmed that Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta had reached the crime scene. Speaking to ANI, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said, "Was this carried out to send a political message or is there some other motive, or is it an act of vendetta? The probe is underway, and the truth will come to light."
The murder has sent shockwaves through political circles, with many expressing concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Adhikari, a former Trinamool Congress leader who switched to the BJP ahead of the 2021 assembly elections, has often been critical of the Mamata Banerjee government's handling of violence against political opponents.
Chandranath Rath, a close associate of Adhikari, was attacked by unidentified assailants in the North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday evening. He succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The BJP has demanded a thorough investigation and swift justice.
As the political temperature rises, both parties are expected to make statements on the incident. The ruling Trinamool Congress has not yet officially commented on the murder. The incident underscores the bitter rivalry between the two parties in the state, which has seen several instances of political violence in recent years.
