West Bengal state BJP unit observed the bicentenary celebrations of the birth of 19th century educational and social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar today across the state.

Political analysts felt that BJP leadership took this ‘damage control move’ in a bid to erase the ‘black spot’ which the party had received during their clash with the ruling Trinamul Congress that led to the damage of the bust installed at Vidyasagar College campus on Bidhan Sarani in May.

The incident happened during road show of Amit Shah, the present home minister, which had also rocked the state ahead of Lok Sabha elections during its last phase.

The incident had prompted the chief minister Mamata Banerjee to condemn the incident.

Apparently hinting the BJP, she had said, “Politically blind giants broke the Vidyasagar bust.” The state BJP leaders, including a central minister Pralhad Singh observed the day at the party’s state headquarter along CR Avenue, garlanding the photo of the great reformer of Bengal.

“Trinamul Congress is doing dirty politics involving Vidyasagar. The incident that happened on 14 May in Kolkata was a conspiracy of the Trinamul. But we never do such things because we always respect and honour the great men in our party programmes,” Singh said at the head quarter. The party, for the first time organised several programmes in districts, including Vidyasagar’s birth place in Ghatal to pay tribute to him.

“It’s not a ‘damage control’ because our party was involved in the incident on 14 May. From now, we will organise several programmes to pay tribute to the great men of Bengal,” a BJP leader said.

Meanwhile, the union minister of state for forest and environment Babul Supriyo landed BJP in an embarrassing situation when the party was observing Vidyasagar’s birth anniversary today in the state.

While addressing in a programme organised by BJP’s film industry unit in the city, he said, “Vidyasagar abolished Satidaha. Therefore it’s a great event when personalities in arts, theatres, films get together to float a platform on this day.”

Raja Rammohon Ray, Bengal’s another social reformer and father of renaissance, had abolished the Sati in the country in the 19th century.

Borno Porichoy re-introduced: The re-introduction of Borno Porichoyon Vidyasagar’s birth anniversary was hailed by people from all walks of life. They appreciated the initiative taken by the chief minister Mamata Banerjee to honour the great educationist and social reformer by re-introducing Bornoporichoy in all the primary schools of the state.

Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and education minister Partha Chatterjee today paid their tributes and respect to Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar on his 200th birth anniversary.

The education department organised several programmes to honour the iconic figure of Bengali Renaissance who waged a war against women oppression and propagated widow remarriage. “We have received new set of copies of Bornoporichoy which will be introduced in standard one and two,” said a principal of a school.