A woman attacked former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee with slippers on Tuesday when he was brought to a central government-run hospital in Kolkata.
The woman has been identified as Subhra Ghadui, a resident of Amtala in the South 24 Parganas district.
The incident took place despite tight security around Chatterjee and his aide Arpita Mukherjee. After the slipper was thrown, the Trinamool Congress leader was hurriedly surrounded by the security personnel and moved to safety.
When Ghadui was asked why she threw a slipper at Chatterjee, she said, "He has laundered money of so many poor people, bought flats and you are asking me why.
Further, she added, "He is being transported in an AC car. He should be dragged with a rope around his neck. I would have been happier if the slipper had hit his head."
"So many people don't have food on their plates, he took the money after promising jobs. And then he enjoyed, bought flats to stack the cash. It is not only my anger but that of lakhs and lakhs of people of West Bengal," she said.
The police detained her briefly and questioned her.
BJP state spokesman in West Bengal Shamik Bhattacharya said that although he does not support such acts, but it is evident that the rage of public in general is reaching such a stage, its reflections were evident in that incident.
Similar reaction was given by the CPI(M) central committee member, Sujan Chakraborty, who said that it is unfortunate for the state that a former minister has shamed the state to such an extent that public anger is reaching such a stage. "Though I do not support the action of hurling foot-wears, at the same time it is a reflection of public rage," he said.
Trinamool Congress leaders were tight-lipped till the time the report was filed.
Partha Chatterjee was arrested in connection with the multi-crore West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) by the Enforcement Directorate on July 23. About 50 crore in cash and a huge amount of gold was recovered from his aide Arpita Mukherjee's flats.
The Mamata Banerjee government removed Chatterjee from all three of his ministerial posts. He held the portfolios of Commerce and Industries, Parliamentary Affairs, and Information Technology and Electronics. Chatterjee also was the Secretary General of Trinamool Congress.
(With agency inputs)