Mamata Banerjee Demands PM Modi’s Apology for ‘Bankim da’ Remark, Says Bengal’s Icons Being Insulted

Kolkata, December 9, 2025: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of insulting renowned novelist and Vande Mataram author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by referring to him as “Bankim da” during a discussion in Parliament. She said the remark amounted to disrespect toward one of India’s most revered cultural figures.

Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar, Banerjee said national icons must be treated with dignity, especially individuals who shaped India’s intellectual and freedom movement legacy. She criticised the Prime Minister’s informal phrasing, saying it trivialised the stature of the Vande Mataram author. “The person who wrote the national song was disrespected. You should bow your head and apologise,” she said.

The controversy began after Modi used the word “Bankim da” during a Lok Sabha session commemorating 150 years of Vande Mataram. TMC MP Saugata Roy intervened and asked him to say “Bankim Babu” instead. Modi immediately accepted the suggestion and said he respected the sentiment, before lightly joking about whether he could still address Roy as “dada.”

Despite this clarification, Banerjee intensified her criticism, saying the term sounded like addressing a neighbour rather than a literary figure of national stature. She accused the BJP of repeatedly undermining Bengal’s historical icons, claiming that the party had earlier called Raja Ram Mohan Roy “not a patriot,” labelled freedom fighter Khudiram Bose a “terrorist,” and was linked to the vandalism of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s bust in Kolkata.

The Chief Minister also questioned the BJP’s contributions to India’s freedom movement and accused the Union Government of behaving in an “autocratic” and “corrupt” manner. She alleged that democratic institutions were being weakened and likened the ruling party’s actions to characters from the Mahabharata.

Banerjee further warned that Bengal’s culture, language, and heritage would be at risk if the BJP comes to power in the state. She claimed that the next Assembly election could be announced soon after the publication of the revised electoral roll under the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision. She also accused the BJP of using the revision process to create fear among voters ahead of the polls.

With the political atmosphere already charged in West Bengal, the row over Vande Mataram and Bankim Chandra has added fresh tension as the state heads toward next year’s Assembly election.