Controversy over derogatory remarks directed at Netaji in Bengal | Explained

On August 13, the West Bengal government withdrew the Banga Bibhusan honour from Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Roy alias Ananta Maharaj. Mr. Roy, a Rajya Sabha MP elected with the support of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in 2023, will not use the civilian honour conferred by the Mamata Banerjee government earlier this year in February.

The development is a fallout of the political controversy that has erupted in West Bengal over remarks made by the BJP MP directed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Nagendra Roy alias Ananta Maharaj, who is at the centre of the controversy is a leader from Cooch Behar and was nominated to the Upper House from West Bengal in July 2023 as a candidate backed by the BJP. A few days ago, the self-styled leader had called Netaji a “war criminal”, questioned his leadership and raised doubts over the role of the Azad Hind Fauj in India’s freedom struggle.

The remarks made at a public event have gone viral and several Netaji loyalists have come in open seeking action against the BJP MP. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is among the most revered and respected Bengalis and any attack on him is likely to evoke strong reactions.

Leaders from Opposition parties, including former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have held protests in Kolkata over the remarks and accused the BJP leaders of insulting Netaji. All India Forward Bloc, a party set up by Netaji had also objected to the remarks directed at Netaji.

Who is Nagendra Roy alias Ananta Maharaj?

Nagendra Roy is a leader of Greater Cooch Behar Movement, a sub-regional movement that seeks a separate state to be carved out of territories of Cooch Behar and parts of Dooars and lower Assam. Mr. Roy, who hails from Rajbangshi community hails a significant support over the community.

The 64-year-old claims that he is the ‘king maharaj’ of the Rajbanshi and has constructed a house modelled on the lines of the Cooch Behar palace. While the movement may have lost its steam but Ananta Maharaj and other leaders who had been associated with it have support of the people from Rajbangshi community. This is the reason why BJP and Trinamool Congress have decided to extend an olive branch to Nagendra Roy. The BJP, after the 2021 Assembly polls in West Bengal, when it had enough MLAs to nominate an MP to Rajya Sabha, made Ananta Maharaj as its first pick. When asked why he had made such remarks, Mr. Roy said that he was speaking based on official records.

West Bengal police start registering cases

As the remarks made by the BJP MP triggered strong reactions in social and political circles, the West Bengal BJP leadership has attempted damage control. BJP MLAs and Ministers from north Bengal met the Chief Minister and raised the issue of remarks against Netaji.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed the police to take action against such remarks, register FIRs and make arrests. “We will not allow this (remarks against Netaji) to be made from the soil of West Bengal. The police will take appropriate and strong action,” Mr. Adhikari said. An FIR has also been filed against Nagendra Roy. The police have also made arrests on persons who have allegedly posted on social media against Netaji.

Amidst the controversy, the Chief Minister has directed all the West Bengal MLAs to set up ‘seva kendras’ (public service centres) named Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in every Assembly constituency. Mr. Adhikari has also said that photographs of Netaji will be put up in every school of the State.

Netaji controversy not limited to remarks

The controversy relating to the insult of Netaji is not only limited to remarks by the BJP Rajya Sabha MP. On Thursday (August 13), when the State government decided to withdraw Banga Bibhusan, a statue of Netaji was vandalised in Kolkata. A few days ago, a street at Rampurhat in Birbhum which was named in the honour of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was re-named in honour of Syama Prasad Mookherjee. The local BJP MLA was said to be responsible for the name change. After the change of regime in West Bengal, when the BJP is looking for new icons and trying to portray Syama Prasad Mookherjee as its biggest political and cultural icon, there have been some remarks that do not go well with the legacy of Netaji.

While lauding the contributions of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, WB BJP president Samik Bhattacharya recently hit out at the All-India Forward Bloc (AIFB), the party founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, calling its members “goons”.  The State BJP president, who is also a BJP Rajya Sabha MP also has publicly said that when Mookerjee urged Subhas Chandra Bose and his brother Sarat Chandra Bose to raise their voice against torture of Hindus in Bangladesh, none of them listened.