A video of an elderly man in saffron robes holding the national flag became the centre of attraction during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest in Kolkata.
The protest against the death of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College saw protestors march to the Bengal Secretariat.
In the video, the elderly man can be seen raising the tricolour as the police try to disperse the crowd using water canons. The video of the saffron-clad sadhu immediately became the symbol of protest with several prominent personalities including Union Minister Smriti Irani, BJP leader Amit Malviya and veteran journalist Kanchan Gupta.
Speaking to news agency ANI, the saffron-clad man was identified as Balaram Bose and he said that he joined the protest over women's safety.
"The agitation was called by students but it was said that one individual from every household should join it. I too have women in my house. So, we should be concerned for their safety. If the society remains well and secure, women will be respected. Gods do not reside where there is no respect for women...While taking part in the agitation, I believed that we have to make our voices reach Nabanna. If I had to, I would have died," he told ANI.
In an interview to India Today, he reiterated that his name was Balaram Bose after the Trinamool Congress alleged that he is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
However, there are reports claiming that his name is Prabir Bose, but now calls himself as Balaram Bose.
His Facebook page identifies him as Prabir Bose and he has worked as a photographer in the past. His profile photo, uploaded in 2013, shows him posing with a camera and a cigarette, while he is clean shaved. His profile has several social media posts slamming Mamata Banerjee and indicating links to ABVP.
However, he posted a video on his Facebook profile on Wednesday, saying, "I am Balaram Bose. I was participant in this students' protest. I just want to appeal to you not to stop this movement. Please continue this 'Justice for RG Kar' movement."
He further said that some people are projecting him as a villain, while some are calling him a hero, but he added that he is just an ordinary man, like the thousands of others in this movement.
"My only message to the people is: persist in this movement for justice, no matter whatever narratives are created," he added.
TMC Claims 'Sadhu' A BJP Member
After the video of the 'sadhu' went viral, the Trinamool Congress has alleged that Boise was a member of the BJP.
TMC leader Sagarika Ghose on Thursday said that the 'sadhu' during the BJP's protest is a photographer named Prabir Bose wearing a religious costume.
The TMC MP shared a post by a group called 'Trinamool Supporters' which had images of Prabir Bose without a beard and a screenshot of his BJP membership card.
"The “sadhu” at the @BJP4India’s Kolkata mob violence turns to be a photographer named Prabir Bose wearing a religious costume. He’s also a @BJP4India member. What a JOKE," Sagarika Ghose said.