‘Declare Netaji’s birthday as holiday’

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, JAN 23: Demand for declaring the January 23 as a national holiday as a tribute to India’s freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is getting louder. The demand was renewed during the 120th birth anniversary of Netaji on Monday.

Rich tribute was paid to Netaji on his 120th birth anniversary as the U Soso Tham auditorium organised by the Greater Shillong Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Birthday Celebration Committee which was also attended by a host of politicians irrespective of party uniforms.

These includes cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, former health minister AL Hek, BJP MDC Antonio War, UDP senior leaders Bindo Lanong and Jemino Mawthoh and former minister Manas Chaudhuri, who is also general secretary of the centenary celebration.

Netaji’s lovers also organized a candle light vigil on his statue as part of their tribute to the freedom fighter who led the Indian National Army (INA).

Speaking on the occasion, former Congress minister AL Hek said that it is time that the birth day of Netaji should be declared as a national holiday. “I appeal such proposal be submitted to the Prime Minister for necessary action,” he said.

Agreeing with Hek, BJP MDC Neil Antonio War assured that the state unit of the party would definitely write to the Narendra Modi led Centre government for declaring the birth anniversary of this legendary hero as a national holiday.

Later speaking to reporters, the committee’s president Naba Bhattacharjee informed that a signature campaign will be organized by end of March to declare January 23 as ‘Desh Prem’ and to declare it as a national holiday.

“We would accordingly send the signatures collected to the prime minister,” he added.