Journalists boycott All India Trinamool Congress programme in Guwahati

Misbehaviour alleged by Abhishek Banerjee's security staff

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: City-based journalists boycotted a day-long event organized by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in the city on Wednesday after being reportedly misbehaved with by security personnel brought from West Bengal by party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

A number of journalists and photo-journalists said that Banerjee's security personnel heckled and misbehaved with them when they went to cover an event organized at the ITA complex in Machkhowa by the AITC's State unit.

The misbehaviour is said to have happened in the presence of AITC's State unit president Ripun Bora and AITC's Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev.

Banerjee came to Guwahati for various meetings and events related to the Trinamool Congress' State unit, including inauguration of the AITC's State unit office.

The Guwahati Press Club has condemned the alleged misbehaviour of the security personnel of Abhishek Banerjee. Members of the Guwahati Press Club criticized the security personnel for verbally abusing and attempting to hit journalists at the AITC event. The Guwahati Press Club also forced the top TMC leadership to tender an apology during the event.

The Assam Photo-Journalists Union has also condemned the security personnel's misbehaviour.

It may be mentioned that Abhishek Banerjee was here to inaugurate the party's State headquarters and meet leaders other Northeastern State units.

As the ruling party of West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is attempting to gain traction in Assam and the North-East.

Former All India Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev joined the party last year, while the former APCC president Ripun Bora left the Congress party last month.

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