BJP MP Anil Firojiya has demanded the Indian government confer India’s highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna’ on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Firojiya wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his government to honour Netaji with the award for his role in the Indian independence movement, a report stated.
Honouring the iconic leader, the Indian government on January 19 announced that his birthday on January 23 would now be celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ from this year.
The Prime Minister would launch the year-long celebrations of ‘Parakram Diwas’ on the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji from the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata this year.
Also read: Declare Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday as national holiday: Mamata Banerjee writes to PM Modi
The celebrations will also include an international conference on ‘Re-visiting the legacy of Netaji Subhash in the 21st century’ and an artists’ camp at the National Library in Kolkata.
The government also urged the young generation to follow the ideals of Netaji and that this will help them to develop a nationalistic spirit.
The government will also release a commemorative coin and postal stamp on Netaji on the occasion.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee recently wrote a letter to Modi urging him to declare Netaji Jayanti as a national holiday.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray also demanded the de-classification of ‘Netaji Files’ and publication of ‘A History of Indian National Army 1942-45’.