Amid BJP-TMC’s electoral tussle, PM Modi in Bengal today to mark Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary
23 January, 2021 | newsx bureau
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Kolkata today to celebrate “Parakram Diwas”. Currently at Victoria memorial, PM has also released a book named “Letters of Netaji”.
Today marks the 125th birth anniversary of India’s legendary freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Ahead of the elections in West Bengal this year, BJP and the ruling TMC have locked horns in the state to get a piece of Netaji’s legacy. Both parties have organized different events to celebrate the legend.
While the PMO had announced that the freedom fighter’s birthday will be celebrated as “Parakram Diwas” (day of valour), CM Mamata Banerjee had criticized the move and announced that they will be celebrating it as “Desh Nayak Diwas” (day of national hero).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kolkata today to celebrate “Parakram Diwas”. He attended celebrations at Victoria memorial where he released a book named “Letters of Netaji”. The PM also inaugurated an exhibition dedicated to Netaji at the National Library. While addressing the event the Prime Minister said, “The country has decided that from now we will celebrate Netaji’s birth anniversary (January 23) as ‘Parakram Divas’.” He added that, “Netaji’s life, work and decisions are an inspiration for all of us. Nothing was impossible for a person with such steely resolve.”
CM Mamata Banerjee also attended celebrations at Victoria memorial hall. According to reports, she refused to address the program at the memorial amidst ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants and said that she had been ‘insulted’. Before the event Banerjee led a rally taken out from Shyambazar 5 point crossing where Netaji’s statue is situated to Red Road. The rally commenced at sharp 12:15 PM with a siren blow, marking the exact timing of Netaji’s birth.
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On the other hand, India National Congress working President of Maharashtra, Nitin Raut has attacked BJP’s celebration of Netaji’s birth anniversary he called it as ”hypocrisy” and said BJP has “no right” to celebrate Bose Jayanti. He tweeted, “BJP’s #NetajiSubhasChandraBose birth anniversary program is hypocrisy as it is opposed to his secular ideology & revolutionary deeds. #RSS, Hindu Mahasabha opposed freedom struggle & joined hands with British. Their political heir BJP is trying to fool people by such programmes.”