BJP MLA slams Mamata's hospital visit as 'cynical photo-op', says he didn't give consent to meet

Siliguri: BJP MLA Sankar Ghosh, who was injured alongside party MP Khagen Murmu in a mob attack in north Bengal, on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of indulging in a "cynical and disgusting photo-op" during her brief visit to the hospital.

In a video posted on Facebook from his hospital bed, Ghosh said he learnt from the media that the chief minister had visited the medical establishment in Siliguri where both he and Murmu are admitted.

"In the morning, the hospital administration had informed me about her proposed visit at a short notice. I didn't give consent and MP saheb, who is in the ICU, cannot speak, so the question of his consent does not arise," Ghosh said.

He further claimed that Banerjee "spent less than a minute-and-a-half" beside Murmu's bed while "her media team clicked pictures and shot videos for publicity".

"There was no conversation with him, as he is not in a condition to speak with anyone," Ghosh said.

Calling it "yet another example of Mamata Banerjee's cynical and disgusting politics", the Siliguri MLA alleged that the chief minister had "no moral authority to indulge in such theatrics after unleashing TMC lumpen on BJP legislators who were visiting and coordinating relief and rescue operations, something her administration should have been doing".

"No amount of drama or photo ops will help Mamata Banerjee," he said, adding that the "BJP will continue to stand firmly with the people of West Bengal, notwithstanding TMC's goondagiri." Banerjee had earlier in the day visited the private hospital in Siliguri where Murmu is undergoing treatment after sustaining injuries in an alleged attack by TMC supporters while distributing flood relief in Nagrakata area in Jalpaiguri district.