New Delhi, 26 April (H.S.):

Former Congress president and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned the alleged killing of Congress worker Debdeep Chattopadhyay in West Bengal and has lashed out at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the incident. Expressing deep condolences to the bereaved family, he has demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and appropriate compensation for the victim’s kin.

In a post on social‑media platform X, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the killing was carried out by TMC‑linked goons after the elections and called it “highly condemnable.” He accused the West Bengal government of replacing democracy with “goonda rule,” saying that dissenting voices are being threatened and silenced.

He stressed that Congress politics has never been based on violence and that the party has always committed itself to non‑violence and working within the framework of the Constitution. “Even though Congress has lost its workers, it has chosen to uphold peaceful and democratic values,” he added.

Rahul urged the authorities to ensure the immediate arrest of those accused in the case and to provide security and adequate compensation to the deceased worker’s family. He said Congress would not bow down before a brand of politics that tarnishes India’s long‑standing tradition of non‑violence and stressed that justice would be secured for the victim and his family.

The incident has intensified the political row in West Bengal, with the Congress portraying the killing as part of a pattern of intimidation against opposition workers, while the TMC denies any direct links and has pledged a thorough investigation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar