‘Not democracy, but TMC’s brutal rule’: Rahul Gandhi on killing of Congress workers

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi Sunday condemned the killing of Congress worker Debdeep Chatterjee after the first phase of polls in the state and blamed the incident on “TMC goons”.“The murder of Congress worker Debdeep Chatterjee by TMC-affiliated goons after the elections is completely condemnable. My deepest condolences to his family,” the Congress leader said on X.

Intensify attacks on ruling parties across India Trinamool Congresshe claimed that “atrocities” had taken over democracy in the state and accused the party of intimidation and violence against political opponents even after the vote. “Today in West Bengal, what prevails is not democracy but the brutal rule of the TMC. Post-poll intimidation, attacks and silencing of opposition voices – this has become a typical feature of the TMC. Congressional politics has never been, and never will be, rooted in violence. We also lost workers, but we always chose the path of nonviolence and constitutionalism. This is our legacy, this is our determination,” he added.Calling for punishment, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said: “The demand is clear – immediate arrest of all guilty, harshest punishment and full safety and compensation for Debdeep’s family. We will not succumb to this kind of politics that tarnishes India’s tradition of non-violence. Justice will be served.”According to the West Bengal Congress, Chatterjee worked closely with Asansol North Congress candidate Prasenjit Putandi. The party claimed that he was attacked and beaten by “TMC-related miscreants” during a post-poll incident in Asansol and later succumbed to his injuries.

State authorities called the killings a sign of “a complete breakdown of law and order” and expressed concerns for the safety of opposition workers. It claimed that no FIR had been registered at the time of reporting and demanded immediate arrest, a fair and time-bound investigation, and adequate compensation and protection to the victim’s family.