Will gouge out eyes of those who challenge TMC:Mamata's nephew

Those who dare to show their eyes, we will gouge them out and throw them on the streets. If someone shows us their hands, we will cut them off: Abhishek Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee has stoked a controversy by publicly threatening to “chop off hands and gouge out eyes” of those who dare to challenge the ruling party, evoking strong condemnation from Opposition parties.

“Those who dare to show their eyes, we will gouge them out and throw them on the streets. If someone shows us their hands we will cut them off. But you have to remember that in a democracy, it is the common man who will have the last word,” he said on Monday, at a meeting at Basirhat North 24-Parganas district in the presence of senior party leaders.

The comments of Abhishek, a first-time parliamentarian, drew severe criticism from Opposition parties.

Kamal Beriwal, secretary, state Bharatiya Janata Party unit, on Tuesday lodged a complaint in the Joarasakho police station, accusing Abhishek of instigating Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers to attack Opposition workers.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury condemned the statement, saying it amounted to nothing short of criminal intimidation.

“Human civilisation has travelled a long way from the days of eye-for-an-eye philosophy. This is nothing but criminal intimidation. In a democracy, it is not expected. It is also unfortunate coming from a ruling party leader,” Yechury told reporters.

In a veiled attack on TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) state secretary and Opposition leader Surya Kanta Mishra said, “This is expected only from kids when you have such guardians.”