The West Bengal government on Thursday withdrew the Banga Bibhushan award conferred five months ago on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Ray, popularly known as Anant Maharaj, following widespread outrage over his controversial remarks about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
“The state government issued an order withdrawing and annulling the Banga Bibhushan conferred upon Anant Maharaj on February 21, this year,” said a senior official of the state information and cultural affairs department.
The decision to withdraw the state’s highest civilian award came a day after chief minister Suvendu Adhikari warned of strict action against those making derogatory comments against the iconic freedom fighter, and ordered the police to register cases and arrest the accused.
Anant Maharaj, a prominent Rajbanshi leader from north Bengal, described Netaji as a “war criminal” at a public meeting in Siliguri on August 9, and questioned his leadership and the role of the Azad Hind Fauj in India’s freedom struggle.
A government order said, “The competent authority is satisfied that the continued retention of the Banga Bibhushan by Nagendra Ray is inconsistent with the dignity, prestige and purpose of the honour. Ray shall cease to be entitled to represent himself as a recipient of the Banga Bibhushan and shall not hereafter use, claim or derive any recognition, privilege or benefit specifically arising from such conferment”.
A PTI report said the honour was conferred on Anant Maharaj, an outspoken critic of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bengal which he believed was an attempt to disenfranchise the Rajbanshis, by the previous Mamata Banerjee government in recognition of his “efforts towards the socio-economic development” of the community.
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said Anant Maharaj’s comments were condemnable.
“The BJP should immediately expel him from the party. The chief minister made some statements yesterday. He should implement them. The BJP doesn’t understand the emotion attached with Netaji and India’s freedom struggle. No BJP leaders went to jail,” he said.
Anant Maharaj didn’t respond to calls and text messages seeking his comment.
In Delhi, Roy stood his ground saying his observations about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose were matters of public record. “Whatever I have said about Netaji is not my words. It’s officially documented and is there in the national archives for all to see. Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister of the country at the time. Whether those documents are true or false, it is up to the Congress to answer,” he told reporters in Parliament, according to PTI
