Won’t let Abhishek enter Thakurbari if he comes with cops: Shantanu
Times of India | 1 January 2026
Kolkata: Ahead of Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's scheduled visit to Thakurbari on Jan 9 to pray at the Harichand–Guruchand Thakur temple, junior Union minister Shantanu Thakur claimed Banerjee would not be allowed to enter if he arrived with police security. According to party sources, Banerjee is scheduled to address a public meeting first at Taherpur in Nadia and then visit Thakurbari around 2pm.
Speaking to the media, Thakur, also the sanghadhipati of the BJP-led faction of the All India Matua Mahasangh, said, "I will see how many police personnel he brings. Thousands of Matuas will gather that day and protest marches will be taken out." He later clarified that he was not against anyone entering a temple, saying, "Banerjee comes with a heavy police force to show power. If he does so, we will not allow him to offer prayers. Why does he want to come just before elections?"
"Why would Abhishek Banerjee go with police? He will go with the people. Harichand Thakur spoke of harmony and devotion, not conflict," Trinamool state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar said.
"Everyone has the right to visit a place of pilgrimage," TMC Bongaon organisational district president Biswajit Das said, adding that BJP should not try to obstruct Banerjee's visit.