2 weeks ago
West Bengal strips BJP MP Ananta Maharaj of top award
A very important leader in India, named Ananta Maharaj, said unkind things about a famous freedom hero named Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Netaji helped India fight for freedom many years ago.
Maharaj is a member of the Rajya Sabha, which is one of India's law-making houses.
Many people were upset by his words.
Because of that, West Bengal took away the big award it had given him, called Banga Bibhushan.
Police also filed a case against him, and some of his helpers were arrested.
Maharaj then said sorry and explained that his remarks were accidental.
Some other leaders said sorry was not enough and wanted stronger action.
A leader from the CPI(M) party said the government was just pretending to act.
Everyone agreed that freedom heroes like Netaji should be treated with respect.
West Bengal's BJP government withdrew the Banga Bibhushan, the state's highest civilian honour, from Rajya Sabha MP Ananta Maharaj over his alleged disparaging remarks against Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Cooch Behar police registered an FIR against Maharaj on Friday after a local resident lodged a complaint, and five people close to him were arrested over similar posts.
The row erupted after a viral video of his speech in Dinhata, in which he reportedly called Netaji a 'war criminal', triggered widespread criticism.
Maharaj, whose real name is Nagendra Roy, issued a public apology, saying he was sorry if anyone was hurt by his 'inadvertent remarks'.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed police to arrest those making derogatory comments on Netaji, while opposition leaders called the action an 'eyewash' and demanded stricter steps.
- Who
- Ananta Maharaj (real name Nagendra Roy), a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP and Rajbanshi community leader from Cooch Behar.
- What
- Maharaj was stripped of the Banga Bibhushan award and an FIR was registered against him after he allegedly made derogatory remarks, reportedly calling Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose a 'war criminal' and disparaging the Azad Hind Fauj (INA), during a speech in Dinhata.
- Where
- West Bengal, India — the remarks were made at a programme in Dinhata, and the FIR was registered by Cooch Behar police.
- When
- The award was withdrawn one day before Friday, when Maharaj apologised and the FIR was registered (exact calendar dates not specified in the article).
- Why
- The alleged remarks were widely seen as insulting Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj (INA)'s role in India's freedom struggle, prompting the award's withdrawal, police action and demands for prosecution.
Critics and opposition
Government and Maharaj
Severity of the government's response
Critics and opposition
Opposition parties said the response was insufficient: the CPI(M) state secretary called the award withdrawal an 'eyewash' to protect the BJP's Rajya Sabha member and demanded harsher steps, while TMC and Congress leaders demanded Maharaj's immediate arrest.
Government and Maharaj
The BJP government presented its actions as firm and impartial: the Banga Bibhushan was withdrawn, CM Suvendu Adhikari directed police to arrest those insulting Netaji saying the law is equal for MPs, MLAs and officials, an FIR was filed, five people were arrested and over 100 posts were deleted.
Nature of Maharaj's remarks
Critics and opposition
Critics including the Forward Bloc said the remarks were derogatory and historically distorted, insulting Netaji and the soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj (INA), and constitute conduct unbecoming of a Member of Parliament, urging Rajya Sabha proceedings.
Government and Maharaj
Maharaj apologised, saying any hurt came from his 'inadvertent remarks', cast himself as a victim of his own party's 'propaganda', and argued governments had failed to honour constitutional commitments and treaties on Cooch Behar.
Key facts
- Award
- Banga Bibhushan, West Bengal's highest civilian honour, withdrawn from Maharaj by the state government
- Award recipient
- Ananta Maharaj (real name Nagendra Roy), BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Bengal
- Original award giver
- The previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, conferred in February this year
- Trigger
- Viral video of his speech in Dinhata; reportedly called Netaji a 'war criminal' and disparaged the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army, INA)
- Police action
- FIR registered by Cooch Behar police; five people close to Maharaj arrested; over 100 social media posts deleted
- Community
- Rajbanshi (Scheduled Caste), the largest SC group in Bengal at over 18% of 21.4 million (2011 Census)
- Statehood demand
- Heads a GCPA (Greater Cooch Behar Peoples' Association) faction seeking a separate state or Union Territory for Greater Cooch Behar
- Parliamentary letter
- Forward Bloc's general secretary urged Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan to start proceedings against Maharaj
Quotes
Suvendu Adhikari
Chief Minister of West Bengal
“"Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the soldiers of the INA belong to the entire nation. Their sacrifices cannot be insulted, trivialised or rewritten by anyone, least of all by a sitting Member of Parliament."”
indianexpress.com
“"I have asked the police to take stringent action against those making derogatory remarks against Netaji on social media. Police have been directed to arrest those behind it," the CM told media.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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