To commemorate the 125th birthday of Subhas Chandra Bose, an iconic freedom fighter who hailed from the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the ‘Parakram Diwas’ celebrations in Kolkata today. The Office of the Prime Minister said that on the same day in Sivasagar, Assam, he will also distribute over one lakh land ‘pattas’ (allotment certificates). The visit of Modi to the two states takes on significance as both are headed to the April-May assembly polls.
A number of events around Bose, often called Netaji by admirers, have been planned by the BJP, as well as the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, as they seek to woo the voters ahead of the polls.
The PMO noted that in order to honour and remember his indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation, the central government recently decided to celebrate Bose’s birthday each year as ‘Parakram Diwas.’
महान स्वतंत्रता सेनानी और भारत माता के सच्चे सपूत नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस को उनकी जन्म-जयंती पर शत-शत नमन। कृतज्ञ राष्ट्र देश की आजादी के लिए उनके त्याग और समर्पण को सदा याद रखेगा। #ParakramDivas
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2021
This will also help inspire people in the country, especially young people, to act as the celebrated freedom fighter did with strength in the face of adversity and to instil in them a spirit of patriotic fervour, it added.
The inaugural function of the Victoria Memorial celebrations in Kolkata will be chaired by Modi.
On that occasion, a permanent exhibition and a Bose projection mapping show will be inaugurated.
The prime minister will also release a commemorative coin and postage stamp, and the Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot cultural programme will also be held.
Prior to this event, Modi will visit the National Library, Kolkata, where the “Revisiting the legacy of Netaji Subhas in the 21st century” international conference and the artists’ camp are being organised.
He will communicate with the performers and other respondents, the PMO said.
Earlier that day, 1.06 lakh land ‘pattas’ will be distributed by Modi in Assam.
The Assam government has issued a comprehensive new land policy with a renewed emphasis on protecting their rights, taking into account the urgent need to protect the land rights of the indigenous people of the state.
The PMO added that in order to instil a sense of security among them, the issuance of allocation certificates for the indigenous population of the state was given the highest priority.
In 2016, Assam had 5.75 lakh, landless families. Since then, the present government has distributed 2.28 lakh pattas of land.
