Abhishek Banerjee blames BJP for Khejuri arson, calls attack assault on Bengal’s social harmony
The Statesman | 11 May 2026
Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday accused the BJP of orchestrating violence in West Bengal’s Khejuri area, alleging that BJP-backed elements torched more than 60 shops in an attempt to spread fear and disrupt communal harmony in the state.
In a message shared on his WhatsApp channel, Banerjee strongly condemned the violence reported from Nichkasba GP in Hijli Sharif, terming the incident “nothing short of barbaric”.
“Is this how you plan to drive ‘Bhoi’ out? By setting Bengal on fire?” he said in a pointed attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The TMC leader alleged that the destruction caused by the fire had ruined the livelihoods of ordinary citizens and affected people across communities.
“Over 60 shops were torched by BJP-backed miscreants, destroying the livelihoods of innocent people overnight. Hindu-owned shops, Muslim-owned shops, it made no difference. This was not an attack on any one community; it was a calculated assault on Bengal’s social harmony, democratic fabric and the ordinary citizens who simply want to live in peace,” Banerjee said.
He further accused the BJP of promoting divisive politics based on “hatred, intimidation and destruction” and asserted that the people of West Bengal would resist such attempts to destabilise the state.
“This is the true face of BJP’s politics: hatred, intimidation and destruction. Bengal will never surrender to such violence,” he said while demanding immediate action against those responsible.
“Those responsible for this shameful act must be identified and brought to justice at the earliest,” he added.
The remarks come amid heightened political tensions between the All India Trinamool Congress and the BJP in West Bengal, where allegations of political violence and intimidation have intensified in the post-poll atmosphere.