West Bengal: TMC leaders mourn death of Asish Banerjee, allege harassment

"The passing of Asish Banerjee has left me deeply disturbed," Mamata Banerjee wrote on X.

NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday condoled the death of her party leader Asish Banerjee, saying the "harassment and mental pressure" he faced should "make all of us pause and reflect on the human cost of relentless political hostility". Banerjee claimed that Asish Banerjee was "repeatedly maligned, falsely accused and subjected to relentless pressure". "What makes this tragedy even more painful is the immense mental and emotional strain he appears to have endured in his final days. As a five-term MLA, former deputy speaker and chairman, Asish Da dedicated himself to bringing development to Rampurhat and undertook a large number of important works for the people. Yet, despite the work he did, he was repeatedly maligned, falsely accused and subjected to relentless pressure," Mamata Banerjee wrote on X. She said: The harassment and mental pressure he faced, despite his long record of public service, should make all of us pause and reflect on the human cost of relentless political hostility". "My heartfelt prayers and condolences to his family, loved ones, former students and countless admirers. His absence will be deeply felt, always," she further wrote.

Earlier, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who is also Mamata Banerjee's nephew, on Sunday expressed profound grief over the death of former MLA and former deputy speaker of the West Bengal assembly, while raising severe concerns over the circumstances leading to his tragic death. In a post on X, the TMC leader paid tribute to the veteran politician and former educator, describing him as a "lifelong teacher and public servant" who served the people of Birbhum with dignity, honesty, and simplicity. "A lifelong teacher and public servant, Ashish Banerjee devoted decades to serving people with honesty, dignity and simplicity. He was a respected figure and a source of pride for Birbhum," he added.

Abhisek Banerjee alleges 'smear campaign'

Addressing the contents of Ashish Banerjee's final note, Abhishek Banerjee highlighted the toll taken by an unyielding campaign of defamation, pointing fingers directly at political opponents and media reporting. Abhishek Banerjee said that the final note raises troubling questions about a "sustained smear campaign," blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and sections of the media to reflect on the real-world impact of relentless public allegations.

CM Suvendu vows probe

Meanwhile, West Begal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said he would ensure probe into suicide of Asish Banerjee to ascertain if the former ex-deputy speaker was "threatened". "Will probe if anyone threatened him", CM Suvendu said as per news agency PTI, hours after the TMC leader died by suicide. Adhikari also expressed apprehension that "corrupt elements" within the TMC "might have threatened him". Banerjee was found dead on Sunday morning at a Trinamool Congress office at Rampurhat in the Birbhum district. His body was found hanging and was sent for a post-mortem examination, police said. The circumstances surrounding his death are not yet clear.