OP-ED: Why is BJP ‘discoing’ with Bengal’s pre-independence icons?

Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das was the antithesis of what the BJP stands for “I am a proud Bengali. Don’t forget that we celebrate Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das’s 150th birth anniversary this year. Don’t forget Rani Rashmoni and Vidyasagar. They were all proud Bengalis.” These were Mithun Chakraborty’s fervent words at the Brigade Grounds in Calcutta, on March 7, where he was formally anointed into the ranks of the Bharatiya Janata Party.