TMC leader Kunal Ghosh speaks to the media, in Kolkata. File.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Kolkata:

Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh has attacked the Congress and its senior figure, Rahul Gandhi, for mentioning a date of death in his tribute Thursday for Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

“The Congress has always covered up the suspense over Netaji’s death. The Congress has covered up the suspense over Netaji’s disappearance. They have covered where Netaji was, or is. Keeping the same position intact, Rahul Gandhi declared Netaji’s death date. He should immediately apologise and correct his post…” Mr Ghosh declared, referring to a post on X.

Earlier today, while taking part in birth anniversary celebrations in Bengal’s Alipurduar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said, “We regret that while we know when he was born… we do not know how, or if, he died (and) when he died. We know his birthday but not his death date.”

“He is the victim of a big conspiracy. We feel sad. He fought so much for the country but where that man got lost… we never found him. This sadness will remain,” she said.

But this morning Mr Gandhi, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, indicated on his X handle that Netaji had died on August 18, 1945, a date that has been challenged by some experts.

“Heartfelt tribute to the great revolutionary, founder of Azad Hind Fauj, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. Netaji’s leadership, courage, his struggle for social justice, his contribution towards tolerance and inclusion continue to inspire every Indian even today. My respectful salute to the immortal son of Mother India, Jai Hind!” Mr Gandhi said.

महान क्रांतिकारी, आज़ाद हिंद फौज के संस्थापक नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस जी की जयंती पर उन्हें भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि।

नेताजी का नेतृत्व, साहस, सामाजिक न्याय के लिए उनका संघर्ष, सहिष्णुता और समावेशिता के प्रति उनका योगदान आज भी हर भारतीय को प्रेरित करता है।

भारत माता के अमर सपूत को… pic.twitter.com/Fa2CTUu9BL

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 23, 2025

In the photo accompanying the post, there was a birth date – January 23, which is recognised as his birth anniversary and celebrated as such. But it also had a date of death – August 18, 1945.

However, the date and circumstances of Netaji’s death, and indeed if he even died, remains a mystery till date and is an emotional issue for many. Some believe his ‘death’ was a fabrication to ensure safe passage to Russia, then the USSR.

New Delhi:

Amid the bitter exchanges between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the ruling BJP over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a Trinamool spokesperson has come up with a humourous response to a BJP leader’s barb in which she threatened to “pull his hair”.

Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said he has lost hair and it is not right to “cast an evil eye” on the ones that remain.

“Papiya Adhikari, a former actress, then CPM and then BJP leader, has publicly threatened to slap me, pull my hair. I have lost my hair. It is not right to cast an evil eye on them. Instead, suggest medicines that may help hair growth,” he said in a post in Bengali on X, adding that the BJP leader can continue lapping up publicity with her statements.

Mr Ghosh, who has been articulating the Mamata Banerjee-led party’s position in the sensitive case, has been at the receiving end of a social media attack from supporters of Opposition parties BJP and the CPM. Many have also pointed to the Saradha Group corruption case in which he was arrested.

Responding to this, Mr Ghosh has said that he was in jail but he is not guilty and that he is fighting a legal battle.

The political row over the doctor’s rape and murder at the state-run hospital has seen several instances of caustic exchanges between members of the ruling party and the Opposition.

Earlier, senior Trinamool leader and MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar made headlines for her “saree maker” barb at BJP MLA and fashion designer Agnimitra Paul. Responding to the Trinamool leader’s remark, Ms Paul said she is immensely proud of her profession.

A postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run hospital was found dead on the morning of August 9. The response of the hospital administration and the state government to the shocking incident has come under the scanner as massive protests have erupted in Bengal and other parts of the country. The CBI is investigating the rape-murder and allegations of financial irregularities in the hospital.