Islands In Andaman And Nicobar Renamed 'Only To Gain Popularity', Says Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

She also accused the Centre of scrapping the Planning Commission envisaged by the legendary freedom fighter.

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was addressing a programme held on the occasion of the freedom fighter's birth anniversary.

New Delhi: Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Pary-ruled Centre saying that the renaming of islands in Andaman and Nicobar was done to merely “gain popularity” since Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had himself named the islands as ‘Shahid’ and ‘Swaraj’ Dweep.

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move to name 21 islands of the Union Territory after Param Vir Chakra awardees on the occasion of Bose's 126th birth anniversary, Mamata said, "Today only to gain popularity, some are claiming to have given names of Andaman islands Shahid and Swaraj Dweep, but these islands were given such names by Bose when he had gone there to inspect Cellular Jail."

She also accused the Centre of scrapping the Planning Commission envisaged by the legendary freedom fighter.

PM Modi today named the largest islands of Andaman and Nicobar after Param Veer Chakra awardees including Major Somnath Sharma, Subedar and Hony Captain (then Lance Naik) Karam Singh, 2nd Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane, and Nayak Jadunath Singh.

Notably, in 2018, the Union Territory’s Ross Island was named as Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Dweep by Modi during his visit to the island in 2018. Likewise, Neil Island and Havelock Island were also renamed as Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep. 

The Bengal Chief Minister was addressing a programme held on the occasion of the freedom fighter's birth anniversary.

Banerjee along with several dignitaries and family members of Bose paid tributes to the freedom fighter at the Red Road event.

(With inputs from PTI)