Archive · 13 Aug 2026
West Bengal CM Adhikari Orders Arrests Over Netaji Insults
There is a great hero in India named Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who fought hard to make India free.
Some people wrote and said mean things about him, and a leader named Ananta Maharaj even called him a bad name and said he could not make his own army.
The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, was very upset by this.
He told the police to take strong action, even to arrest people who say bad things about Netaji.
He said no one is above the law, not even important leaders.
He also said that even if people delete their mean posts, they will still be in trouble.
Another leader, Mamata Banerjee, held a big meeting in Kolkata to say these comments were wrong.
The government decided that every lawmaker will open a help centre named after Netaji, with money to run it.
The Chief Minister said even the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, respects Netaji and put up his statue in New Delhi.
So, the leaders want everyone to be kind and respectful about the great freedom fighter.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered police and the cyber cell to take strict action, including arrest, against those making derogatory social media comments on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The move followed a request from BJP north Bengal MLAs Deepak Burman, Nisith Pramanik and Malati Rava Roy at Nabanna; Adhikari cited the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and said deleting posts will not spare offenders.
The row stems from BJP Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Roy (Ananta Maharaj), who told a Greater Cooch Behar People's Association meeting in Dinhata on July 19 that Netaji lacked the capacity to raise the Azad Hind Fauj and called him a 'war criminal'.
Adhikari said no one — MP, MLA, government official or police officer — is above the law, and noted that PM Narendra Modi installed Netaji's statue at Kartavya Path.
The Assembly decided every MLA will open a 'Seva Kendra' named after Netaji, with ₹30,000 government assistance per centre, while TMC chief Mamata Banerjee held a Kolkata rally against the remarks.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who acted after BJP north Bengal MLAs Deepak Burman, Nisith Pramanik and Malati Rava Roy sought action; the row centres on BJP Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Roy (Ananta Maharaj), and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee also protested.
- What
- Police and the cyber cell were ordered to take strict action, including arrest and criminal cases, against derogatory social media comments on Netaji, and MLAs will open 'Seva Kendra' centres named after him.
- When
- Announced on a Wednesday at Nabanna; one account places Roy's remarks at a GCPA meeting in Dinhata on July 19 and says Adhikari broke his silence after about three weeks, while another says the directive came two days after Roy's remarks.
- Where
- Nabanna state secretariat in Kolkata, West Bengal; the controversial remarks were made in Dinhata, and a protest rally was held in Kolkata.
- Why
- To defend the honour of Netaji, described as a brave freedom fighter and 'son of this soil,' and amid criticism over the BJP's slow response to Roy's remarks.
Defending Netaji's Honour
Criticising Netaji's Legacy
Netaji and the Azad Hind Fauj
Defending Netaji's Honour
Adhikari and the West Bengal government regard Netaji as a brave freedom fighter and 'son of this soil' who brought freedom, saying derogatory comments about him will not be tolerated; Adhikari noted that PM Modi installed Netaji's statue at Kartavya Path, and three All India Forward Bloc leaders filed a police complaint alleging the remarks demeaned Bose and undermined the freedom movement's legacy.
Criticising Netaji's Legacy
BJP MP Nagendra Roy (Ananta Maharaj) claimed Netaji lacked the 'capability to organise and raise an army like the Azad Hind Fauj', said the force was actually a unit of British soldiers, that the Indian National Army (INA) was misused, and described Netaji as a 'war criminal'.
Handling of the row and the BJP's response
Defending Netaji's Honour
The government says strict police and cyber cell action, including arrest and criminal cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, is justified because no one — MP, MLA, official or police officer — is above the law, and deleting posts will not spare offenders.
Criticising Netaji's Legacy
Political rivals including TMC chief Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP for not acting against Roy and held a rally in Kolkata; the BJP faced criticism for staying silent for about three weeks, and a source said central leader Sunil Bansal warned that dishonouring Netaji and remaining silent could hurt the party's standing in Bengal.
- State
- West Bengal
- Announcement venue
- Nabanna state secretariat, Kolkata
- Legal basis
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- MLAs who sought action
- Deepak Burman, Nisith Pramanik, Malati Rava Roy (BJP)
- MP at centre of controversy
- Nagendra Roy aka Ananta Maharaj (BJP, Rajya Sabha)
- Date of controversial remarks
- July 19, at a GCPA meeting in Dinhata (per one account)
- Assembly decision
- 'Seva Kendra' service centres named after Netaji in every Assembly constituency
- Financial assistance per centre
- ₹30,000
