Bengal education minister Bratya Basu on Thursday asked whether theatre personalities, who had recently returned their state-conferred awards in protest against the RG Kar Hospital episode, would do the same if a similar incident occurred in another state or involved awards given by the central government.

Basu was responding to the decision of three prominent theatre personalities — Chandan Sen, Biplab Bandopadhyay, and Sudipta Chakraborty — to return the state awards in protest against the RG Kar incident and a remark by Trinamul MLA Kanchan Maullick.

The minister’s statement prompted the theatre personalities to remind Basu about how they had been consistent in voicing their opposition to the “fascist ways” of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and incidents of rape in BJP-ruled states.

On Thursday, veteran actor Supriya Datta announced his intention to return the Best Actor’s Award and cash prize he received this year from the Rajya Natya Academy. Roy said he decided to remain with “truth” rather than an award.

Prominent artist Sanatan Dinda resigned from the Rajya Charukala Parshad on Thursday to register his protest over the RG Kar incident.

Basu said while returning the awards was their personal decision, the government retained the right to confer them.

“We have the right to bestow awards, and they have the right to return them,” Basu said.

He added that he hoped those individuals would similarly protest if such incidents occurred in other states, particularly those governed by the BJP.

“If they were honoured with central government awards, would they return those as well?” Basu, who is also a playwright and actor, asked.

Addressing Chandan Sen’s decision to return the prestigious Dinabandhu Award, Basu said: “The entire theatre community respects his decision. However, from the perspective of the Natya Academy, I can say that while Sen had ties to the Left Front, the Trinamul government honoured him without political bias, valuing his artistic contributions. He has the democratic right to return the award, and we respect that.”

On Tuesday, Sen, an octogenarian playwright who had fought the polls as a Left Front candidate in 2006, was the first to announce his decision to return the Dinabandhu Award. Fellow actors Biplab Bandopadhyay and Sudipta Chakraborty followed suit.

Trinamul MLA and actor Kanchan Mullick had questioned the integrity of the protesting state award winners.

Speaking at a recent TMC rally in Konnagar, Mullick said: “Our democratic country allows people to have their opinion. And what about our artists who have received awards and such? Will they return the awards? Let them say, we are returning them.”

Responding to Basu’s remarks, Sen said: “I don’t recognise this Bratya Basu. I knew a Bratya Basu who was a great playwright and a friend. But now, he speaks with the voice of a ruler, who preferred to remain silent in the face of Kanchan Mullick’s statement.”

Almost echoing Sen, theatre director Bandopadhyay accused the state government of demanding unconditional loyalty in exchange for awards. Reacting to the minister’s comments, Bandopadhyay told The Telegraph: “I cannot respond to the hypothetical question raised by Bratya Basu.”

He clarified that returning his award was his way to register the protest over the RG Kar incident.

“Since 2014, my theatre group, Prachya, and I have been protesting against the BJP’s fascist tendencies. Because of our stance, we were denied the Centre’s salary grant this year. The BJP sees us as their enemy. We’ve consistently opposed incidents like Unnao and Hathras, and the divisive narratives spread by the BJP. So, yes, we protest wrongdoing regardless of where it happens.”

Chakraborty, who is known for her versatile performances on stage and screen, said no one could silence her.

“Even if it’s hypothetical, I will return an award if central ministers ridiculed us or put pressure to silence me. Politicians make such comments regularly, but a simple and honest apology can work. Unfortunately, instead of admitting their faults, they were pointing fingers at their political rivals. I am not surprised by Bratya Basu’s remarks.”