No threat can stop me, I’m more stubborn than BJP: Abhishek on chopper issue
The Statesman | 7 January 2026
Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee today came down heavily on the BJP and held the saffron party responsible for the helicopter controversy.
Mr Banerjee was scheduled to visit Birbhum by a chopper this morning.
Mr Banerjee did not get clearance and so he spoke to Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand, who arranged for a helicopter. Mr Banerjee arrived at the meeting venue in the helicopter.
Mr Banerjee in his X handle wrote: “My chopper was not given clearance. BJP thinks these tricks will stop me. But I am 10 times more stubborn than the BJP. Since my chopper did not receive clearance, I spoke to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and arranged his chopper to come to this meeting.
In January, Mr Banerjee will visit different districts to take part in the political campaign ‘Abar Jitbe Bangla’.
Mr Banerjee said though he was late in reaching the venue he was determined to reach Birbhum even if 10 people were there to attend the meeting. Though he was late, people did not leave the venue and Mr Banerjee thanked them for turning up in huge numbers.
Mr Banerjee went to Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital and met Sunali Khatun, who gave birth to a baby boy yesterday. He named the baby boy Apon. Both the mother and the baby are keeping well. He assured the family that he would come to see the mother and the baby after three months.
Sunali Khatun, who used to work as a migrant worker in Delhi was arrested and despite all the documents in her possession she was sent to Bangladesh. Later, she was brought back to India following a Supreme Court order. Her husband and son are still languishing in a jail in Bangladesh. Mr Banerjee said: “Sunali had told me about her traumatic experience. The BSF beat her up. It was a tremendous physical and mental trauma.”
Abhishek said the Bengali-speaking migrant workers are being harassed , abused and beaten up in the double engine states. In Chhattisgarh, eight migrant workers were beaten up by the goons allegedly belonging to the Brajranj Dal for speaking in Bengali.
Later, Mr Banerjee also offered puja at Tarapith temple.