Jan 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Bengal on Saturday to celebrate Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary, which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is observing as ‘Parakram Diwas’.
On Saturday, PM Modi tweeted on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary and said, “Tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a great freedom fighter and a true son of Mother India, on his birth anniversary. A grateful nation will always remember his sacrifice and dedication to the independence of the country.”
महान स्वतंत्रता सेनानी और भारत माता के सच्चे सपूत नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस को उनकी जन्म-जयंती पर शत-शत नमन। कृतज्ञ राष्ट्र देश की आजादी के लिए उनके त्याग और समर्पण को सदा याद रखेगा। #ParakramDivas
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2021
As Bengal gears up for the upcoming assembly election, the campaign has heated up with both BJP and ruling Trinamool Congress planning mega celebrations for Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on Saturday.
TMC observes ‘Desh Prem Diwas’ with an eye on the upcoming assembly election.
How political parties plan to celebrate Netaji’s birth anniversary in Bengal?
- BJP and Centre have decided to observe January 23 as ‘Parakram Diwas‘ to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bose, who was born on this day in 1897.
- Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has tweeted: Homage to Deshnayak Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birthday. He was a true leader & strongly believed in the unity of all people. We are celebrating this day as Desh Nayak Dibas. Govt of West Bengal has also set up a committee to conduct year-long celebrations till January 23, 2022.
Mamata added, “A monument, named after Azad Hind Fauj will be built at Rajarhat. A university named after Netaji is also being set up which shall be funded entirely by the state and will have tie-ups with foreign universities. A grand padayatra will be held today. This year’s Republic Day parade in Kolkata will also be dedicated to Netaji. A siren will be sounded today at 12.15 PM. We urge everyone to blow shankh at home. Centre must also declare January 23 as a National Holiday.”
- Sugata Bose, Netaji’s grandnephew who runs Netaji Bhawan, says he has no information yet on PM Modi’s visit. “Usually, we are informed early on about such visits so that we can prepare,” said Bose.
Sugata Bose, who is affiliated with TMC, said, “Netaji had a clear vision of what India should look like after freedom. His main contribution was to unite the country and brought them all together with the Azad Hind movement. He was opposed to narrow, arrogant nationalism. He ought not to be appropriated to a project of so-called muscular nationalism.”
- The BJP, as well as the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, has planned several events around Bose, often called Netaji by admirers, as they seek to woo the voters ahead of the polls. PM Narendra Modi will preside over the inaugural function of the celebrations at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.
A permanent exhibition and a projection mapping show on Bose will be inaugurated on the occasion. A commemorative coin and postage stamp will also be released by the prime minister and a cultural programme “Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot” will also, be held.
- PM Modi will visit the National Library, Kolkata, where an international conference “Revisiting the legacy of Netaji Subhas in the 21st century” and an artists’ camp are being organised. He will interact with the artists and other participants, the PMO said.
