Nagendra Roy alias Ananta Maharaj. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Nagendra Roy alias Ananta Maharaj, a Rajya Sabha MP nominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), on Friday (August 14, 2026) expressed an apology for his objectionable remarks directed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
“I am saying this by expressing my respect towards Netaji, that if anyone has been hurt by my unwarranted comments against Netaji then I am expressing my deepest regret for the same,” the MP said in a video statement.
The statement came after the West Bengal government started registering FIRs and arresting people for making and sharing derogatory posts on the national icon on social media. On Thursday (August 13, 2026), the West Bengal government also withdrew Banga Bibhusan, the State’s highest civilian award to Nagendra Roy alias Ananta Maharaj, which was conferred to him by the Trinamool Congress government in February this year.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvenduy Adhikari said that six FIRs have been arrested and five people have been arrested for remarks on Netaji. Mr. Adhikari expressed satisfaction that Nagendra Roy has issued an apology and suggested that people should be mindful of his old age.
“He is a senior citizen and has withdrawn his comments. I take it as a positive step, but I must reiterate that he made an inappropriate comment,” he said. The Chief Minister said that it was the Trinamool Congress government that has honoured Ananta Maharaj with Banga Bibhusan. “Ananta Maharaj was given the Banga Bibhushan award by the earlier government. We have taken it away from him,” Mr. Adhikari said.
The Chief Minister also informed that along with five arrests about 282 social media posts were taken down. Meanwhile protests were organised in different parts of the State over the disrespect to Netaji. Supporters of Congress and CPI(M) brought out rallies blaming the BJP for derogatory remarks made at Netaji.
Senior BJP leader and former Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy said that it was not correct to blame the BJP for the controversy and said that in a big party there might be a few “rotten apples”.
Mr. Roy, a leader of Greater Cooch Behar Movement, was elected Rajya Sabha MP with the support of BJP MLAs in 2023. 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. This remark had triggered massive outrage and both the party and the government had to initiate a damage control exercise.
Published – August 14, 2026 04:11 pm IST
