In a gesture blending politics with personal empathy, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday named the newborn son of Sunali Khatun, a day after his birth at Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal. The baby was named "Apon," which translates to "one's own."
A Visit of Solidarity and a Name
Banerjee visited the hospital around 5 pm, spending nearly half an hour with Sunali Khatun and her child. He stated that he named the baby at the mother's specific request. During his visit, he presented the infant with a necklace and offered words of encouragement to Sunali.
"He told her to stay strong. He commended her strength and courage, while also promising that she will get justice for the sufferings she went through," said Jyotsna Bibi, Sunali's mother, who was present during the visit.
Political Barbs and a Mahabharata Reference
The visit was laden with political symbolism. Banerjee used the occasion to launch a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "No power on earth can make our own people feel like strangers," he declared. He accused the BJP of trying to make Sunali an outsider, or 'por,' by illegally throwing her into Bangladesh and asserted that his party brought her back.
Later, on social media, Banerjee escalated his rhetoric, drawing a parallel from the Indian epic. "In the Mahabharata, the Kauravas met their downfall because of the grave sin of violating Draupadi's dignity out of arrogance," he wrote. He labelled political opponents as the "modern-day Duryodhana-Dushasana duo" and warned they would face democratic retribution in Bengal for the "unspeakable torture, insult, and humiliation inflicted upon a pregnant mother."
The Backstory: Deportation and a Supreme Court Reprieve
The context of the visit traces back to a distressing ordeal. Sunali Khatun, along with her minor son and husband Danish Sk, were among six individuals working as ragpickers in Delhi. In June, they were picked up and deported to Bangladesh. They were later arrested there for being illegal foreigners and jailed.
Sunali, in an advanced stage of pregnancy, was brought back to India on December 6 on the Supreme Court's direction on humanitarian grounds. However, her husband and three others remain in Bangladesh, casting a shadow over the family's joy.
"Amid the stress, we did not think of a name. Sunali said that either Abhishek Banerjee or Mamata Banerjee should name the child. We are very happy with the name," Jyotsna Bibi revealed. She added that the family had been informally calling the baby 'babu.' While grateful for the naming ceremony, the absence of the child's father was deeply felt.
A Promise of Continued Support
In his social media post detailing the hospital visit, Abhishek Banerjee reflected on the responsibilities of a public representative. "As I looked at the innocent baby, I was reminded of the sacred responsibility we bear... to defend the rights, honour, and dignity of every citizen, no matter how vulnerable," he wrote.
He concluded with a promise, "They belong with us, among us, forever. I pray for the speedy recovery and sound health of both mother and child. I shall visit them again soon to ensure they receive every support they need." The event underscores the ongoing political tussle in Bengal over issues of identity, citizenship, and welfare, now poignantly symbolized by a newborn named Apon.
