PM, Didi share the stage
Rift evident as Bengal CM refuses to speak at event; Modi links Bose’s “free India” call with Centre’s “Atmanirbhar” focus
KOLKATA: Events marking Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 124th birth anniversary brought together Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and governor Jagdeep Dhankhar in a rare appearance at Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial Hall on Saturday, although it failed to keep the political rivalry at bay just months ahead of elections in the state.
Controversy erupted after Banerjee declined to speak at the event after “Jai Shri Ram” slogans were raised in the presence of PM Modi, prompting the chief minister to say such “insult” was unacceptable.
“This is not a party programme. This is an event of the government. All political parties and people are part of this event. The government should have some dignity. Don’t insult me after calling me here. I refuse to speak at this event in protest. Jai Hind, Jai Bangla,” said said, wrapping up.
The Centre and Bengal government are locked in a tussle over Bose’s birth anniversary, clashing over the declaration by the central government of marking January 23 as “Parakram Diwas” instead of calling it “Desk Nayak Diwas” – as the Trinamool Congress had requested.
Hours before PM Modi’s arrival in the city, Banerjee had led a march in Kolkata, from Shyambazar to Red Road, and attacked the Centre for marking Netaji’s birth anniversary only in the year when the state is scheduled to go to the assembly polls. The chief minister also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government for not declaring January 23 a national holiday and for not building a memorial for the freedom fighter.
“I protest the Centre’s decision to not yet declare Netaji’s birth anniversary as a national holiday. You are building new Parliament and buying new planes... why no memorial for Netaji?” she asked.
PM Modi, who took the stage shortly after Banerjee, did not speak of the chief minister’s exit from the stage; instead focusing on the Covid-19 vaccination drive in the country, and the steps taken by the Union government to safeguard country’s borders. “I sometimes wonder how Netaji would have felt if he had seen how a new and strong India is taking shape,” he said during his address.
“Netaji had dreamt of strong India, from LAC [Line of Actual Control] to LOC [Line of Control] we are following his footsteps. Whenever our sovereignty was challenged, we have given a befitting reply,” he said, citing the addition of modern fighter aircraft such as Tejas and Rafale to India’s fleet.
Bose would have also been proud that the government he dreamt of is fighting a pandemic with vaccines developed in the country, the PM added, saying: “Netaji once asked people not to lose hope of free India. Similarly, no one can stop India from being Atmanirbhar (self-reliant).”
PM Modi is the second Prime Minister after Lal Bahadur Shastri to visit Kolkata’s Netaji Bhawan on Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday. The mansion on Elgin Road, where the freedom fighter’s family lived, now houses a museum on Bose.
After visiting Netaji Bhawan, Modi went to the National Library where interacted with senior library officials and researchers.
After spending around 30 minutes at the library campus, the Prime Minister’s motorcade left for the Victoria Memorial Hall.
With the assembly election approaching, political temperature is rising in West Bengal. The BJP – which was until a few years believed to be a fringe party in the state – has exuded confidence that the ‘lotus’, the party’s poll symbol, will bloom in West Bengal after the assembly elections.
The TMC, meanwhile, is dealing with a flurry of resignations that include senior ministers and legislators.
At least three ministers have quit the Mamata Banerjee-led Cabinet in recent months. Former transport minister and heavyweight leader from East Midnapore district Suvendu Adhikari resigned and joined the saffron camp in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah on December 19. On January 5, former Indian cricketer and sports and youth affairs minister Laxman Ratan Shukla also quit the party.
This is not a party programme. Don’t insult me after calling me here. I refuse to speak at this event in protest MAMATA BANERJEE,
West Bengal chief minister