TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee’s Amtala office demolished over rule violations

Kolkata: Demolition of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's party office at Amtala, which was allegedly illegally constructed without an approved building plan and in violation of applicable rules, was undertaken by South 24 Parganas district administration on Saturday.

The demolition was being carried out by using excavators amid heavy central security and police deployed around the site. The Fire and Emergency Services personnel were also present as a precautionary measure.

“The action followed complaints which alleged that the party office was constructed violating all regulations,” the sources said. It is learnt that that notices had been issued, asking them to appear for hearing as part of the statutory process initiated following complaints.


"The administration has initiated proceedings strictly in accordance with the provisions of the law. Notices have been served after receiving complaints regarding alleged unauthorised construction, and the matter is currently under adjudication," a senior South 24 Parganas district administration official. “The demolition work is being done strictly on the basis of the legal process and the outcome of the hearing."

“To those who are celebrating the demolition of the Trinamool Congress party office and calling it "illegal," I want to remind you of a few facts. On 15 July, we were officially called for a hearing, and our representatives attended. During the hearing, we asked the district administration to provide a copy of the complaint on which the proceedings had been initiated. However, they failed to produce or provide that document,” Abhishek Banerjee claimed. “Today, within just two days, on 18 July, almost the entire ground floor and first floor of the party office have been demolished using bulldozers. Along with officials of the district administration, the BDO, police and BLO personnel, BJP workers carrying saffron flags, wearing saffron headbands and covering their faces unleashed vandalism at the site.”

“We have video footage of the entire incident. We have already sent an email to the Chief Justice of India with the available evidence attached. If necessary, we will pursue this matter all the way to the Supreme Court. No one found responsible will escape accountability. The reach of the law is long, and justice will prevail,” Abhishek said, adding BJP believes in the bulldozer model,” he said.

Meanwhile, Banerjee said the leader who left the party is now abusing or blaming him. “I challenge them to return to Didi. If they do, I will resign from the party within an hour,” he said. “But they won’t as they have made a deal with the BJP: leave the party, join the rebel camp or the BJP, take protection from ED, CBI and other agencies and then blame and abuse Abhishek Banerjee.”