Politics over Netaji: Parakram vs Desh Prem

KOLKATA: The central government’s decision to celebrate Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday on January 23 as Parakram Diwas, or day of valour, triggered a controversy on Tuesday with West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) as well as the party formed by the legendary freedom fighter alleging that they were not consulted in the decision-making process. While the TMC wants that the day be celebrated as Desh Nayak Diwas (day of the national hero), the Forward

Bloc, which Bose formed in 1939, and a section of his family demand that January 23 be observed as Desh Prem Diwas (day of patriotism).

The objections came hours after Union minister Prahlad Singh Patel made public the plans to celebrate Bose’s 125th birth anniversary in 2022. The year-long celebrations will begin this January 23.

In New Delhi, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the first Parakram Diwas event in Kolkata and inaugurate an exhibition on the grounds of the National Library to mark the occasion.

In Bengal, where Bose is a cultural icon, the TMC accused the Centre’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of performing a “stunt” ahead of the assembly elections slated for April-may.

“Chief minister Mamata

Banerjee has been demanding for years that January 23 be declared as a national holiday and celebrated as Desh Nayak Diwas. That is the appropriate name because Rabindranath Tagore called Bose a desh nayak (national hero). The Modi government takes all decisions unilaterally,” TMC Lok Sabha member and party spokesperson Saugata Roy said.

“It appears to be a stunt keeping in mind the upcoming assembly polls in the state, and not as a mark of respect to Netaji (as Bose is popularly known),” he added.

THE TMC WANTS THE DAY TO BE CELEBRATED AS DESH NAYAK DIWAS AS AGAINST THE CENTRE-PROPOSED PARAKRAM DIWAS