Ahead of WB polls, PM Modi forms committee to commemorate birth anniversary of Netaji Bose

UPDATE: High-Level Committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed on January 8, to commemorate 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Houring Freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, PM Modi on Monday anunced that Centre has constituted to decide on activities for a year-long commemoration of Netaji's 125th Birth Anniversary starting 23 January 2021. committee, which is to be heed by Home Minister Amit Shah comprising of experts, historians, authors, family members of Netaji and INA associates, will decide how to pay tribute to Netaji's contribution to India’s freedom struggle. Incidentally, West Bengal goes to polls in April-May 2021, where Mamata Banerjee eyes a third consecutive term.

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BJP & Netaji

In 2015, Modi government declassified 33 files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, with digital copies of 100 files being released by PM Narendra Modi in January 2016. In 2018, PM Modi visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands and joined programme to mark 75th anniversary of hoisting Tricolour by Netaji Bose - renaming Ross Island as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep. Recently, in January 2019, a Netaji museum was inaugurated by PM Modi at Red Fort, New Delhi. Modi government h also inculcated 4 INA veterans in its Republic Day pare in 2019- marking a first.

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BJP's Bengal battle

Meanwhile, saffron party is gearing for a tough battle in Bengal - aiming to attain more than 200 seats, while t fielding a CM face yet. BJP h alrey politically divided Bengal into five parts - rth Bengal, Rath Bang (South Western District), Nabwip, Medinipur and Kolkata, handpicking Shivprakash, Sunil Deodhar, Dushyant Gautam, Bhikubhai Dalsania, Ravindra Raju,  Vid Sonkar, Harish Dwivedi to ta work on booth levels in se regions. With over 65,000 booth committees and 14,000 Shakti Kendra constituted, BJP has appointed five veterans as central observers - with final call to be taken by Amit Shah. 

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Launching an aggressive campaign under in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya, saffron party's workers have often violently clashed with Trinamool workers over CAA, COVID-19 leing to deaths of several BJP leers. BJP, after having a limited presence in politically polarised Bengal for deces, has emerged as main rival of ruling TMC in 2019 general election, winning 18 of 42 Lok Sabha seats in state. saffron party's chances have been bolstered with entry of TMC heavyweight  Suvendu hikari, who joined along with 23 or grassroots leers.