Row after govt declares Netaji birthday as ‘Parakram Diwas’
The Centre has announced to observe Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on January 23 as ‘Parakram Diwas’, triggering a sharp response from political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP), in West Bengal.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Union minister Prahlad Singh Patel, who also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend an event in Kolkata on the occasion of Bose’s 125th birth anniversary and inaugurate an exhibition at the National Library this year.
Accusing the Modi government of taking unilateral decisions, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha member and party spokesperson Saugata Roy said: “West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been demanding for years that January 23 be declared a national holiday and celebrated as ‘ Desh Nayak Diwas’. The name is appropriate because Rabindranath Tagore used to call Bose a ‘ desh nayak’ (national hero). The Modi government takes all decisions unilaterally.”
Bose’s grandnephew and BJP leader Chandra Kumar Bose suggested that the day should be known as ‘Desh Prem Diwas’ (day of patriotism). “#Netaji’s birthday on 23January is celebrated as # DeshPremDivas across the country by people from all religions, caste & creed as he was the #LiberatorofIndia & their own leader. Govt sponsorship is not required. However its time the GOI officially announce! @narendramodi @PMOIndia,” he tweeted.
Naren Chatterjee, state general secretary of the Forward Bloc, the party formed by Bose in 1939, also suggested that the day should be declared as ‘Desh Prem Diwas’. “This was the demand we had made when the Left Front was in power in Bengal. The Centre does not care for the sentiments of the public,” Chatterjee said.
However, BJP state vicepresident Jay Prakash Majumdar told reporters that the Centre had chosen ‘ Parakram Diwas’ keeping in mind Bose as a symbol of valour and patriotism for the country.
Chairperson of the Cancer Institute here, Dr V Shanta, noted for her outstanding contribution to cancer care for over half a century died of heart attack early on Tuesday. She was 93.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in condoling her death and Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami said the government would accord ‘police honours,’ (gun salute) during the funeral to honour her selfless services.
A Cancer Institute official told PTI: “Dr Shanata said she was experiencing chest pain and we took her to a hospital last night. Angiogram procedure was done and we were told that she has blocks. During the treatment, she suffered a heart attack and died at 3.35 am. She was 93- year old.” The cremation would take
Dr V Shanta
place this evening at Besant Nagar crematorium, he said.
The Cancer Institute (Womens’ Indian AssociationWIA) at Adyar here is a public charitable voluntary institute dedicated to the care of cancer.
Along with Dr S Krishnamurthi, son of Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy, Dr Shanta played a pivotal role in developing the Cancer Institute from a cottage hospital of 12 beds to a major comprehensive cancer centre of national and international stature.
The institute is popular among the people for its cancer care for the poor.
Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, and leaders of all political parties including DMK president M K Stalin, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K S Alagiri, CPI(M) State Secretary K Balakrishnan and PMK founder S Ramadoss condoled her death besides healthcare professionals and the public.
Modi tweeted, “Dr V Shanta will be remembered for her outstanding efforts to ensure top quality cancer care. The Cancer Institute at Adyar, Chennai is at the forefront of serving the poor and downtrodden. I recall my visit to the Institute in 2018. Saddened by Dr. V Shantas demise. Om Shanti.”
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit said he was shocked and grieved by her death. He lauded her unparalleled commitment and dedication to cancer patients and the Cancer Institute. “Her demise is an irreparable loss to the people of Tamil Nadu and particularly to the medical fraternity and poor cancer patients,” Purohit said.
Palaniswami said Dr Shanta earned a place in the hearts of people across the country by her selfless services and to honour her, ‘police respects’ would be accorded during her funeral. “Dr Shanta’s death is a huge, irreparable loss to healthcare and Tamil Nadu,” Palaniswami said adding late Chief Minster J Jayalalithaa honoured her with ‘Avvaiyar’ Award for her services. DMK chief Stalin said she worked all her life for providing quality cancer care for the poor, ordinary, and all other sections of the society.