'It's a shame': On Netaji's 127th birth anniversary, Mamata targets Centre

NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday targeted the BJP-ruled central government for not keeping their promise of investigating disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

"It's India's bad luck that even after so many years we do not have Netaji's death date. We do not know what happened to him. It's a shame," Mamata said on Netaji's 127th birth anniversary.

"BJP promised to investigate Netaji's disappearance before coming to power but forgot after that. For 20 years, I tried to make Netaji's birth anniversary a national holiday but failed; please forgive me," she said.

In an apparent reference to the Centre declaring a half-day holiday in central government offices for Ram temple's consecration ceremony on Monday, Banerjee said these days holidays are declared for political advertisements, but nothing is announced for those who gave up their lives fighting for the country's freedom.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in commemorating the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose which is observed as Parakram Diwas (Day of Valour). PM Modi paid floral tribute to the freedom fighter at Samvidhan Sadan (Old Parliament Building). Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh and other leaders also paid floral tributes to Netaji at Samvidhan Sadan.

The Prime Minister conveyed his greetings to the people of India and highlighted Netaji's dedication to the nation's freedom. "Greetings to the people of India on Parakram Diwas. Today on his Jayanti, we honour the life and courage of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. His unwavering dedication to our nation's freedom continues to inspire," wrote PM Modi on X.