Caravan News
Darjeeling, West Bengal – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose opposed the Hindu Mahasabha’s “divisive politics” and fought for a secular and united India.
Demanding that his birth anniversary be declared a national holiday, Banerjee said Bose through his struggle has sent the message of respecting all faiths and the best tribute to him would be to fight for a united India.
“Netaji had opposed the Hindu Mahasabha’s divisive politics. He had fought for a secular India. Now efforts are on to oust those who follow secularism,” Banerjee was quoted by PTI as saying. She made the statement at an event in Darjeeling to celebrate Bose’s birth anniversary.
Her statement was aimed at the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party which has been accused of weakening the secular character of the nation. After being reelected to the office in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his victory speech denounced doing politics in the name of secularism.
She also slammed the Centre for “not being serious” about unravelling the mystery shrouding Bose’s disappearance.
“They had only declassified a few files and not taken any step to find out what actually happened. It is a matter of shame that even after more than 70 years, we don’t know what happened to him,” Banerjee said.
