The whispers grew louder in the media enclosure, because a sitting BJP MP isn’t usually in attendance at a West Bengal government programme. Then, Rajya Sabha MP Anant Maharaj was ushered on stage by Bengal I&B minister Indranil Sen and honoured with the Banga Bibhushan, a state civilian award, by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the event in Kolkata, organised to mark International Mother Language Day on Saturday.
Reciting a poem written during his childhood, Maharaj thanked the Chief Minister for the state honour and then criticised his own party, saying the BJP has done nothing for Cooch Behar. “I am very grateful for this honour. It’s International Mother Language Day, and I have been given this award for the Rajbanshi Community,” he added, leaving the event 15 minutes later to catch a flight.
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