NEW DELHI: BJP MLA Manoj Kumar Oraon was allegedly attacked on Tuesday by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in Alipurduar while distributing flood relief materials, a day after two senior BJP leaders were assaulted by a mob in neighbouring Jalpaiguri district. The TMC, however, dismissed the allegations, terming them “baseless.““While trying to help flood-hit people, I was suddenly surrounded and attacked. This is the state of democracy under the TMC,” PTI quoted Oran saying.The BJP shared a video on X of attack and said: “In North Bengal, whenever one tries to stand by the people devastated by floods, Trinamool unleashes its havoc! Standing by the suffering people is now a crime in Mamata Banerjee’s regime!” The TOI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.“MLA Manoj Kumar Oraon, along with BJP workers and central forces, became victims of attack. Trinamool does not understand the language of humanity; they only comprehend the politics of terror. While the flood-ravaged people of North Bengal await help, Trinamool is busy spreading fear and terror,” it added.TMC, however, claimed that it was Oraon who “assaulted an aged man in his area first.”“The charges are baseless. It was Manoj Oraon who had assaulted an aged man in his area first,” PTI quoted a local TMC leader saying.The incident comes just a day after BJP MP Khagen Murmu and Siliguri MLA Sankar Ghosh were injured in an attack while distributing relief materials in Jalpaiguri district’s Nagrakata area.Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met the injured leader and said, “I have received all inputs. He has high blood sugar. It needs to be controlled. I also wished him well and a speedy recovery.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack saying, “The manner in which our Party colleagues, including a sitting MP and MLA, were attacked in West Bengal for serving the people affected by floods and landslides is outright appalling. It highlights the insensitivity of the TMC as well as the absolutely pathetic law and order situation in the state.”“I wish the West Bengal Government and TMC were more focussed on helping people rather than indulging in violence in such a challenging situation. I call upon BJP Karyakartas to continue working among the people and assist the ongoing rescue operations,” he added.
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