Even before the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks referring to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay as Bankim da has died down, a fresh row has erupted over another Bharatiya Janata Party leader calling freedom fighter Matangini. Hazra, a Muslim.
BJP cites insult to Bankim Chandra, Trinamool highlights snub to Tagore
Participating in a debate in the Parliament, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma had said that despite being a Muslim, Matangini Hazra has raised the slogan of Vande Mataram. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (December 11, 2025) raised the issue and said that the BJP leaders know nothing about West Bengal.
“Yesterday, a BJP leader said that Matangini Hazra was a Muslim. Do you [BJP] even know Bengal?” Ms. Banerjee said. The Chief Minister claimed that from calling “Khudiram Bose a terrorist” the BJP leaders have called Raja Ram Mohan Roy is being called a ‘British agent.’
“Bankim Chandra Chattopadhay, who wrote Vande Mataram, is being called 'Bankim Da”. As if [BJP] shares tea with him. Master Da Surya Sen is being called Master,” the Trinamool Congress chairperson said, referring to the Prime Minister’s remark where he had called the writer of Vande Mataram “Bamkin da”.
