Insult to Bengal: Mamata Seeks Modi's Apology Over 'Bankim Da' Reference

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of showing disrespect to iconic author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by calling him "Bankimda" while speaking on his patriotic creation "Vande Mataram" in the Parliament a day before.

The Trinamul Congress supremo also sought the PM to apologise for his casual reference about the legend. She said at a party rally in Coochbehar, “Yesterday you referred to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay as ‘Bankimda’ as if he was anyone like Harida or Shyamda. You could not show the minimum respect to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay who penned our national song.”

Ms Banerjee added, “You should kiss the dust before the people. Still, you wouldn't be pardoned because you have insulted the history, culture and movement of the country. Bengal played a leading role in our freedom struggle. 90 per cent of the freedom fighters were from here.” She further tore into the BJP for trying to divide the Muslim votebank ahead of the Assembly Election.

“Before polls, you are trying to divide the minority votebank by spending crores of money. Otherwise, you ask for dropping the minority names from the voters' list and shooting them to death at places like Sitalkuchi. Did you forget these?” the TMC chief alleged.

Her reference was aimed at her party's suspended MLA of Bharatpur Humayun Kabir who recently revealed his alliance plan with Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi's party, AIMIM, for the upcoming polls after starting Babri Masjid-style mosque construction in Murshidabad.

Charging the BJP further, Ms Banerjee then pointed out, “During polls, you talk for the Rajbanshis in Coochbehar and Alipurduar. Before that, you send them notices from Assam directing them to appear there. None of you (people) should go there. You live here and will live here comfortably.”