BANGALORE: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee called the late Manna Dey’s younger daughter Sumita Deb around 11am Thursday, asking to allow her government to host a grand funeral for the legendary singer.
She sent her representative, Kalyan Banerjee, MP from Kolkata, to Bangalore to pay tribute to the music maestro and convince the family. However, sources said the family ignored the Bengal CM’s request, and Sumita wasn’t willing to talk to the CM either.
The family was reportedly upset with the apathy shown by the Mamata government in helping the singer’s family during his five-month stay in hospital.
Sumita told reporters the family had pleaded with the CM and Kolkata police commissioner to help them, when the funds set aside for his treatment were allegedly siphoned off by Dey’s nephew. But there was no response from them.
She said she hadn’t rejected the offer. “He was a simple man with great ideals, and would have preferred it this way,” she added.
