TMC’s Abhishek dismisses speculation of rift with Mamata

“People are spreading rumours that I will join the BJP… I am not a “beimaan” (traitor). Even if my throat is slit, my severed windpipe will still chant ‘Mamata Banerjee Zindabad,’” Abhishek asserted at a party meeting at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Indoor Stadium.

Blaming former TMC leaders Mukul Roy and Suvendu Adhikari for spreading the rumors, he accused them of acting out of “vested interests ahead of next year’s election” and labeled them “traitors.”

Abhishek’s recent absence from frontline party activities has fueled speculation, though he has been focusing on social welfare and development projects in his constituency.

He also lashed out at the CBI over its latest chargesheet in the alleged teachers’ recruitment scam, accusing the agency of acting at the behest of its “political masters.” Challenging the CBI to present evidence against him, Banerjee said, “I said this five years ago, and I say it again — if you can produce a single piece of evidence, I will hang myself.”