Rampurhat/Kolkata: The purported suicide note found beside former minister Asish Banerjee’s body, which said it was a “mistake to enter politics” has prompted senior netas across political lines to demand an impartial probe.Former TMC neta Asit Kumar Mal, in whose presence CM Suvendu Adhikari spoke with Banerjee’s kin, said, “Everyone who knew ‘Sir’ is profoundly devastated…This should be thoroughly investigated.”Calling the incident “heartbreaking”, parliamentary affairs minister Shankar Ghosh said, “It is a matter of great sorrow that such a senior neta passed away in this manner. It deeply saddens me that before passing, he expressed that entering politics was a mistake for him. It is not a good sign for politics.”Expressing anguish, Congress neta Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “This kind of politics should end in Bengal. It should not become difficult for people belonging to the party that lost the election to survive in Bengal…”Reacting to the death, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said, “Those who participated in this smear campaign (against Asish Banerjee) should reflect on the human consequences of their words and actions. Political battles will come and go, but a life once lost can never be brought back.”TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh questioned the political pressures involved: “Asishda was pressured into joining that (rebel) camp. He was trying to tell netas that staying under Mamatadi’s leadership is better… A former MLA and deputy speaker has to die by suicide in the whirlpool of politics – where do I keep this shame?”TMC rebel camp neta Ritabrata Banerjee alleged, “For the last 15 years, organised loot has taken place in the state. Though only a handful of people in the TMC were involved, innocent politicians had to bear the responsibility.”Birbhum strongman neta Anubrata Mondal said, “He was a very good man, harmless and calm. A person like him… does not seem to me to be connected to any corruption.”
