Last Updated:
Speaking to News18, Ghosh said BJP will take Adivasi movement nationwide, alleging that the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal is “anti-Adivasi.”
BJP leader Shankar Ghosh during a protest against the assault on party MP Khagen Murmu and him during their visit to flood-hit Nagrakata area, in Kolkata, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (Image: PTI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to take the Adivasi movement nationwide, alleging that the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal is “anti-Adivasi.” After holding a protest march in Kolkata on Tuesday, the party plans another in North Bengal on Wednesday.
News18 spoke exclusively with North Bengal BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, who was allegedly beaten up during the recent violence in Nagrakata. Ghosh said he joined the Kolkata rally to protest against the attacks on him and Adivasi MP Khagen Murmu, when they had gone to stand by locals affected by the incident.
Speaking to News18, Ghosh claimed that the attack was “planned by TMC goons” because the BJP chose to support the people in distress.
Below are excerpts from the interview:
Q: Despite your hand injury, you are back on the streets within a week. Why?
Shankar Ghosh: We have always been on the streets. I have been in politics for many years, and we know this was a pre-planned attack. I had made a video that day — when so many people had died in North Bengal, the Chief Minister was busy dancing at a programme. It was from there, I believe, that the plan to attack me was made. The saddest part is that they even attacked an Adivasi MP. This clearly shows what they think of Adivasis here.
Q: Will the BJP take this issue to the national level?
Shankar Ghosh: Yes. We will take Khagen Murmu’s photograph across India to make Adivasis aware of the insensitive and brutal actions of the TMC government. There is no doubt that Mamata Banerjee is anti-Adivasi.
Q: What exactly happened that day?
Shankar Ghosh: We went to Nagrakata along with our State President Shamik Bhattacharya. We visited the Adivasi village where several deaths had occurred. While we were preparing to leave, a group of people suddenly attacked us, asking why I had done a live video. They assaulted Khagen Murmu very badly — he started bleeding profusely. The police were present but did nothing. Murmu’s condition was serious, and we had to rush him to the hospital.
Q: How is your health now?
Shankar Ghosh: I’m trying to recover, but I am back on the streets because the truth needs to be told. We are political workers — we’re used to such things in Bengal under Mamata Banerjee’s rule.
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East…Read More
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East… Read More
October 16, 2025, 08:29 IST
Read More
