Opposition coalition denounces Mamata Banerjee slap incident amid Kolkata protest

New Delhi – On Thursday, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) publicly rebuked West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee after a video circulated showing her delivering a slap to a Trinamool Congress (TMC) activist. The clip was captured during a rally in Barui Pur, Kolkata, organized to oppose a reported case of child molestation and homicide.

BJP parliamentarian Dinesh Sharma told reporters that the incident signals a disturbing shift toward violence. He warned that anyone who engages in physical aggression will face swift legal consequences and appealed to all political parties to preserve the sanctity of democratic debate.

JDU national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said Banerjee appears unwilling to evolve, portraying the party as a private possession that the public will eventually reject. He warned that continued misconduct could impose severe difficulties on the TMC’s future.

Minister Dilip Ghosh of the West Bengal government remarked that the party never had a robust organisational core and described the crowd as containing “anti‑social elements.” He criticized Banerjee for targeting the few remaining loyalists.

BJP senior figure Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, commenting on alleged attacks on TMC leaders following electoral setbacks, called the slap and other alleged incidents “rare and regrettable,” urging the party to conduct deep self‑reflection on why supporters are abandoning Banerjee.

JDU chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar noted that while political rifts are normal, chaos cannot be tolerated. He added that when Banerjee served as chief minister she also ordered counter‑measures, making a reaction to every action inevitable.

The NDA’s comments come at a time when the TMC alleges its workers were physically assaulted during the anti‑violence march.