Rath’s mother, who was inconsolable, said the “provocative and vindictive” statements made by Trinamool Congress leaders during their pre-election campaign rallies led to the attack and death of her son, who was shot dead at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday night.
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“My son is a victim of political revenge. I want the culprits to be punished. I want life imprisonment for the culprits. He was not directly connected with politics,” she said. She alleged her son was the victim of political revenge by Mamata Banerjee for playing a crucial role in defeating her from Bhabanipur and his contribution to Adhikari’s victory in the West Bengal assembly elections.
Rath was Adhikari’s Man Friday and an important member of Adhikari’s core team, which handled his campaign in Bhabanipur. He had been working for Adhikari right from his Trinamool days. “Had I not won in Bhabanipur, his life would not have been in danger. His family also may think so,” Adhikari said as he went to Chandipur with Rath’s body.
“Chandranath was a government employee. He used to draw a salary from the West Bengal assembly as PA of Adhikari, who was LoP. This is not acceptable,” said newly elected BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh.
“My son was in charge of campaigns for both Bhabanipur and Nandigram, where the outgoing LoP contested and got elected. Maybe, this is why my son became a target after the defeat of Mamata Banerjee from Bhabanipur,” Rath’s mother told media persons on Thursday. Rath, an ex-Air Force serviceman, had taken voluntary retirement. Adhikari was associated with Rath’s family from the late 1990s.
After the election results, Rath had gone to Chandipur to meet his mother and family and was returning to Madhyamgram on Wednesday.
