Tribal farmer Bibhishan Hansda, who hosted lunch for Amit Shah on Thursday but couldn’t ask the Union home minister for help regarding his diabetic teen daughter, had a busy Sunday, with back-to-back visits from the BJP and the state government.

Sources said chief minister Mamata Banerjee ordered district officials to tend to Bibhishan’s daughter, after his being “upset” at not getting a chance to speak to Shah came to light.

BJP’s Bankura MP Subhas Sarkar, also a physician, visited Hansda’s house on Sunday, shortly after which a team of district health officials arrived with medicines for Rachana, a 16-year-old chronic diabetic and a Class XII student.

“One after another, teams met us and expressed their concern about my daughter’s health. A team led by the MP assured us of treatment in Delhi. Later, a team of (government) doctors came and gave us insulin and other medicines for my daughter,” said Manika, Rachana’s mother. “We just want help for my daughter’s treatment and her medicines. We are not with any political organisation.”

Hansda, 47, of Chaturdihi village, 13km from Bankura town, had told this newspaper after Shah’s visit that he was “upset” he did not get the scope to convey his concerns to the home minister. Rachana needs insulin twice daily to keep her sugar levels under control, something the farmer can ill afford.

On Saturday, BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh said his party would arrange Rachana’s treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi. Ghosh’s party colleague Sarkar on Sunday went to the Hansda home and told Bibhishan about arrangements for the girl’s treatment at AIIMS if needed. Sarkar also arranged her tests later in the afternoon. “We’ve received the reports and her sugar levels are high. We will take her to AIIMS in Delhi, if necessary, after a few medical tests...,” said Sarkar.

A little after Sarkar’s visit, a team of health officials headed by the BDO gave the girl medicines. “We will take care of her treatment,” said S. Arun Prasad, district magistrate.
Shyamal Santra, Trinamul district president and a minister of state in the Mamata Banerjee government, accused the BJP of damage-control. “It was very unfortunate that the host of the Union home minister’s lunch could not speak to him...there is no need for the BJP here as our chief minister will take care of the girl’s treatment,” said Santra.

Sarkar made light of the state government’s help: “They sent a team today (Sunday) but hadn’t taken care of the health of the little girl before this.”