Abhishek names Sunali’s newborn son Apon: ‘No power can make our own people feel like strangers’

“We all know what she and her family had to go through. Since she was not physically well, I came here to meet her… She and her mother requested me to name the baby. I have named him ‘Apon’, our own. This is because the BJP government at the Centre made them distant. We have made them our own,” said Abhishek after coming out of the hospital.

“She (Sunali) narrated to me how they were pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF. Being pregnant, she had to go through all the physical and mental pain. The family spent months in jail. The BJP has to pay the price of their tears,” said Abhishek, who was in Birbhum as part of his Abar Jitbe Bangla rally.

“We will continue to help the family. Her husband, Danish, is still in Bangladesh. The matter is being heard in the Supreme Court, and the Centre has sought time. We will bring Danish back by appealing to the court,” Abhishek said, adding he would visit them again to ensure they receive every support they need.

Later in a post on X, the TMC general secretary hit out at the BJP over Sunali’s ordeal. “In the Mahabharata, the Kauravas met their downfall because of the grave sin of violating Draupadi’s dignity out of arrogance. The modern-day Duryodhana-Dushasana duo will face democratic retribution in Bengal for the unspeakable torture, insult, and humiliation inflicted upon a pregnant mother,” he wrote with a video of his meeting with Sunali.

“As I looked at the innocent baby, I was reminded of the sacred responsibility we bear as public representatives to defend the rights, honour, and dignity of every citizen, no matter how vulnerable… They belong with us, among us, forever. I pray for the speedy recovery and sound health of both mother and child,” he added.

In June, Sunali Khatun was pushed into Bangladesh along with her husband, Danish, and their eight-year-old son after they were detained by Delhi Police on suspicion of being illegal Bangladeshi migrants. Another family of Sweety Bibi (32) and her two sons, aged six and sixteen (hailing from Dhitora village in Birbhum) were also pushed into Bangladesh. Their families moved Calcutta High Court demanding their return to India. In the meantime, they were detained in Bangladesh for illegally entering India. Later, the Supreme Court of India ordered Sunali’s return along with her eight-year-old son, saying she was pregnant.