Mitra attacks CPI(M) MLA for distorting Tagore's poem

Attacking CPI(M) MLA Tanmoy Bhattacharya for "distorting" a poetry of Kavi Guru Rabindranath Tagore, the state

Finance minister Amit Mitra said: "The people of Bengal will never forgive them for such an act."

Mitra said this while giving a reply after the discussions on Budget in the Assembly on Thursday. Bhattacharya, however, claimed he didn't distort the poetry. The state finance minister said: "I felt sad listening to Left Front MLA Tanmoy Bhattacharya as he distorted a famous poetry of Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore. It is an insult to the poem Dui Bigha Jomi.

He said: "I am sad as Ganga has been referred as a crematorium. He (Bhattacharya) became an MLA for the first time and spoke as if he has lost his mental balance. He must express his regret at the Assembly."

He maintained that this might have also been said purposely. "In July 13, 2011 while addressing the Pramod Dasgupta Memorial Lecture, the former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had said that there is no doubt that the Left committed a mistake. We had claimed that Rabindranath stayed in "ivory tower" and "walked on the clouds". We should remember that he said we made a mistake calling him a poet of the bourgeoisie," said Mitra.

"Again in 1930, Rabindranath Tagore was invited in Russia, then ruled by Stalin. From there, he wrote an essay: "Letters from Russia". He had also given an interview raising the issues of human rights violations. Stalin didn't allow publishing the interview then. But I am happy that after 58 years in 1988, a newspaper had published the same interview," Mitra maintained.

The Left Front MLAs raised their voice when Mitra was attacking Bhattacharya on the same issue. In reply, Mitra said: "I know that it is quite obvious to get angry if I say such a thing."