09
Dec
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…