'What contribution has Amartya Sen made to Indian society, economy?': BJP Bengal chief

Kolkata: Notwithstanding the barrage of criticism he faced for his vitriolic outburst against Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, BJP West Bengal unit president Dilip Ghosh on Monday stuck to his stand as he yet again questioned the globally renowned economist's contribution to Indian society and economy. Peeved at the all-round flak from educationists, cultural personalities and other sections of the civil society, he also claimed that "a section of intellectuals were only serving their own interests". "I stand by whatever I have said.. no regrets," Ghosh told reporters here. "What contribution has he (Sen) made to Indian society and economy? Has he done anything for our country's development?" asked Ghosh, who has time and again created controversies for putting his foot in his mouth. Addressing a programme on Saturday, Ghosh had lashed out against Sen, saying the economist himself did not understand what he has achieved. " What has he achieved? Nobody in Bengal understands this. No one in the world understands it. I have doubts whether he himself understands it," he had said. Questioning Sen's contribution to the country, he said: "What has he given the country? Because he has got the Nobel, we are dancing in joy. He is very much pained for having being removed as Nalanda Vice Chancellor (actually Sen was Nalanda University Chancellor). What has he done?" Ghosh said such people who lacked "backbone and character" were now Bengal's pride. Continuing in the same vein, he attacked Bengal's present intellectuals, saying they could be "bought, sold and threatened". On Monday, Ghosh virtually repeated his earlier comments against a "section of intellectuals" of Bengal, saying "They only serve their own interests, and not the nation. "They are silent when antisocials of the Trinamool Congress vandalise and ransack educational institutes, and beat up teachers. But their conscience is aroused when there is something concerning the BJP," he said.