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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee demands PM Modi apologize for calling Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay “Bankim da” in Lok Sabha. Why did this casual remark spark a cultural controversy ahead of Bengal elections?
Mamata Banerjee demands PM's apology for 'insulting' Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Cooch Behar: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming he insulted renowned Bengali novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by referring to him as “Bankim da” during a Lok Sabha discussion.
The remarks were made on Monday while commemorating 150 years of India’s national song, Vande Mataram, composed by Chattopadhyay.
Addressing a public rally in Cooch Behar, Mamata criticized the Prime Minister for using a casual suffix for one of Bengal’s greatest cultural icons.
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“You were not even born when the country achieved Independence, yet you chose to address one of Bengal’s greatest literary figures so casually. You did not show him the respect he deserves. You should apologise to the nation for this,” she said.
The flashpoint arose after TMC MP Saugata Roy objected in the Lok Sabha to the use of ‘da’ and suggested that Modi should instead use ‘Bankim babu’. PM Modi immediately acknowledged the sentiment, replying, “I will say Bankim ‘babu’. Thank you, I respect your sentiments,” and humorously asked whether he could continue to address Roy as ‘dada’.
Mamata Banerjee also criticized the BJP, claiming that if the party comes to power in West Bengal, it will erode the state’s culture, language, and heritage. She warned that the party’s policies could have a detrimental impact on Bengal’s identity and literary legacy.
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On the political front, Banerjee commented on the upcoming Assembly elections, claiming they would be announced soon after the publication of final electoral rolls following the SIR exercise. She alleged that this timeline is being strategically chosen to prevent legal challenges to the election schedule.
Mamata’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal, with both parties gearing up for a crucial election battle. The debate over the Prime Minister’s casual reference to a revered literary figure has now become a flashpoint, intertwining cultural pride with electoral politics in the state.
