Abhishek Banerjee Meets Family of Man Who Died by Suicide Over 'Fear of NRC,' Urges People to Confront BJP Leaders

PTI, KOLKATA, OCT 29, 2025 :  TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday visited the family of Pradeep Kar in West Bengal's Panihati, a day after the 57-year-old man allegedly died by suicide, leaving behind a note blaming anxiety over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for his decision.

Banerjee, the TMC's de facto number two, was accompanied by party MP Partha Bhowmick, Chief Whip in the West Bengal Assembly Nirmal Ghosh, and youth leader Debraj Chakraborty as he met Kar's family members and expressed condolences. The TMC leader intensified his attack on the BJP and the Election Commission over the incident.

On Tuesday, Banerjee had squarely blamed Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for Kar's death. "Pradeep Kar died due to anxiety over NRC and SIR. An FIR should be filed against Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar," the TMC leader demanded, alleging that the Centre and the Election Commission were attempting to exclude genuine voters under the guise of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Banerjee urged people to confront and "tie up" local BJP leaders if they asked for their parents’ birth certificates during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls or for NRC verification.

Linking Kar's death directly to the SIR, Banerjee claimed that the anxiety created by the BJP and the Election Commission had driven Kar to take the extreme step. The Diamond Harbour MP accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of being responsible for the "climate of panic" and demanded criminal action. "Kar died due to anxiety over NRC and SIR. An FIR should be filed against Shah and Kumar," he said, questioning whether the two would themselves be able to furnish the documents they sought from ordinary citizens.

TMC leaders said the handwritten note found near Kar's body reflected his fear of documentation requirements and the looming threat of exclusion.

Addressing supporters later, Banerjee escalated his attack on the BJP's demand for legacy papers. "Next time local BJP leaders come to your area, stop them and ask them to furnish their parents' certificates. Tie them to a tree or lamp post and tell them they won't be released until they produce their parents' and grandparents' documents," he said. "We do not believe in violence. Don't hit them, just tie them up if they ask for your parents' birth certificates," he added.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of spreading fear and "weaponizing NRC." The BJP countered that the cause of Kar's death should be determined by investigators rather than through political accusations. It insisted that SIR was a routine electoral revision exercise and accused the TMC of exploiting a tragedy for political gain.

The incident has reignited Bengal's fierce citizenship debate, setting the stage for a high-voltage showdown between the BJP-led state government and the BJP-led Centre ahead of the next electoral battle.