Row over audio of Mamata Banerjee berating hospital CEO after 'bhaipo' attacked

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee was attacked during his visit to Sonarpur near Kolkata, where he had gone to meet the families of alleged victims of post-poll violence. Scores of people hurled stones, eggs and abuses at the TMC national general secretary.

In Short

• Audio of Mamata Banerjee berating Belle Vue Hospital CEO surfaces
• Abhishek Banerjee was shifted to the hospital after Saturday's attack
• Mamata accused Belle Vue CEO of wrongdoing, warns of consequences

A leaked audio clip allegedly featuring Trinamool Congress supremo and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee berating and threatening the CEO of a top private hospital in Kolkata has triggered a political row. The clip surfaced a day after her nephew and Lok Sabha MP, Abhishek Banerjee, was attacked by a mob in Sonarpur and was shifted to the said hospital for treatment.

In the viral recording, Mamata is allegedly heard lashing out at Pradip Tandon, the CEO of Belle Vue Hospital, accusing him of wrongdoing and warning him of consequences. "Sorry Mr Tandon, you have done a wrong thing," Mamata can be heard saying in the audio clip.

"Please remember what help we have done for you. God will not excuse you. You are misleading. You should be ashamed. Everybody will remember your arrogance...(audio unclear). You are running the hospital and BJP is in power. Tomorrow, if central government is not there, we will take care of it," she purportedly told Tandon.

EGGS, STONES THROWN AT BHAIPO

Abhishek, who is referred to as "bhaipo" (Bengali for nephew) by political opponents, was attacked during his visit to Sonarpur near Kolkata, where he had gone to meet the families of alleged victims of post-poll violence. Scores of people threw stones and eggs at the TMC national general secretary and raised chants of "chor, chor" as he escaped the mob wearing a cricket helmet and with help from his aides.

Visuals from the scene showed security personnel and local party activists surrounding and escorting the visibly shaken TMC leader as tensions escalated in the area. Wearing a police-issued helmet for protection, the TMC leader was seen with his shirt torn amid the melee, underscoring the volatile nature of the incident.

He later alleged that the attack was carried out by BJP workers. "It's all BJP-sponsored. Look what they have done. This is their example of democracy. It hasn't even been a month, and the police are nowhere to be seen," Abhishek said while talking to the media after the attack.

He further claimed that the attackers intended to kill him. Following the incident, Abhishek was initially taken to an Apollo hospital in Kolkata, before being shifted to Belle Vue.

BJP PRESSURED HOSPITAL: MAMATA

In the aftermath of the assault, Mamata claimed that BJP leaders and a senior police officer pressured a hospital to discharge Abhishek despite his medical condition remaining serious.

Addressing a press conference, the former CM expressed anguish over Abhishek's condition and claimed that he had developed blood clots in his body following the attack.

She said he was admitted to the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) and underwent several medical tests, including a 3D CT scan, ultrasonography (USG) and thoracic examinations.

Mamata alleged that doctors and the hospital were receiving threat calls from BJP leaders and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South). She questioned why Abhishek was admitted to the ITU if his condition was not serious.

According to the TMC chairperson, Apollo Hospital had examined Abhishek and advised that he could rest at home. However, she said she was distressed by the situation and later took him to Bellevue Hospital for further treatment.

- Ends
(With inputs from agencies)