'Rahul Gandhi called me': Mamata says LoP offered to fly Abhishek Banerjee to Hyderabad for treatment

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee claimed that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had personally reached out to her following the alleged attack on TMC national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee in West Bengal.Addressing reporters late on Saturday night, Mamata said Rahul Gandhi had offered assistance for her nephew Abhishek Banerjee's medical treatment and assured support if required."Rahul Gandhi called me and told me if anything is needed, I can tell him, and he can take Abhishek Banerjee to Hyderabad or anywhere else for the treatment," Mamata said.The remarks come after Abhishek Banerjee was allegedly attacked during a visit to Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district, where he had gone to meet families affected by post-poll violence.Videos from the scene showed stones, eggs and shoes being hurled as protesters shouted slogans against the TMC leader. Visuals also showed Banerjee being escorted away by security personnel with his shirt torn during the scuffle.Mamata Banerjee further alleged that there was pressure on hospitals and doctors regarding Abhishek Banerjee's treatment after the incident."Those who are in power are threatening all the hospitals and the maximum authorities not to admit Abhishek Banerjee because they don't want him to be treated," she alleged."When I was sitting with the hospital administrator, he told me that he was getting threat calls from the police. Doctors are sad, but they are pressured," she added.Also Read | 'Rulers have become killers': Mamata fumes over attack on nephew Abhishek Banerjee; BJP hits backRahul Gandhi had strongly condemned the attack and described it as an assault on democracy.In a post on X, Rahul wrote: "The attack on MP Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur is utterly reprehensible. An attack on a Member of Parliament is not merely an assault on one individual—it is an assault on the very people who elected him, and on the democracy that is our shared legacy. This is the ugly face of the BJP's politics of revenge. Political differences can never justify violence.""The central government and the West Bengal government—both must take immediate action against the perpetrators, and ensure that no public representative, regardless of their party, ever has to worry about their safety. Abhishek ji, my thoughts are with you and your family. Wishing you a speedy recovery," he further wrote.The attack has triggered a political storm, with several Opposition leaders rallying behind Abhishek Banerjee. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the incident and questioned the alleged lack of adequate security, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav termed it a 'major conspiracy' and accused the BJP of promoting violent politics.The TMC has alleged that BJP-backed supporters were behind the attack. In a statement, the party claimed Abhishek Banerjee continued with his visit despite what it described as a 'vicious attack by BJP-backed miscreants' while meeting families of party workers allegedly targeted in post-poll violence.BJP leaders, however, denied any involvement. West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya condemned the incident but said the party had no role in it, suggesting that local anger against the TMC may have led to the confrontation. Union minister Sukanta Majumdar also condemned the violence and appealed for peace, while urging people not to take law and order into their own hands.Following the attack, Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the incident was pre-planned and questioned the absence of adequate police deployment at the site. "Look what they have done to me. This was pre-planned. There is no police in the area. They want to kill me," he had said.