NEW DELHI: To mark the 125th birthday of Subhas Chandra Bose on Sunday (23 January 2022), West Bengal Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare Netaji’s birthday a national holiday.
On Twitter, the head of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) said that Netaji is a national and global icon and that his rise from Bengal in the annals of Indian history is unprecedented.
“We appeal again to the central government to declare Netaji’s birthday a national day so that the entire nation can pay tribute to the national leader and celebrate #DeshNayakDibas in the most appropriate way,” he said.
Mamata explained that this year a painting will be exhibited at the Republic Day parade in ‘Netaji’ and will also show other prominent Bengali freedom fighters to celebrate the 75th year of India’s independence.
He said that Bose is the epitome of patriotism, courage, leadership, unity, and brotherhood. Mamata reported that the West Bengal government celebrates his 125th birthday as “Desh Nayak Dibas” in accordance with protocols across the state.
“Along with some long-term initiatives to commemorate Netaji, a national university with international cooperation, Jai Hind University, will be established with 100% state funding,” he said.
“Inspired by Netaji’s reflections on the National Planning Commission, a Bengal Planning Commission will be established to assist the state in its planning initiatives,” the TMC supremo added.