Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], January 23 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday paid tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary, describing him as a "towering patriot" for whom freedom, dignity and India's sovereignty were "non-negotiable", while alleging that the legacy of national icons and constitutional values is being "deliberately undermined " in present times.
Through her official X post, she hailed Netaji as "Bengal's proud son", whose life was devoted entirely to the freedom and destiny of India. "When fear was normalised and submission institutionalised, Netaji chose defiance. When compromise was convenient, he chose sacrifice. To Netaji, freedom was non-negotiable, dignity was non-negotiable, and India's sovereignty was inviolable," she said.
https://x.com/MamataOfficial/status/2014671746490585201
The Chief Minister accused the ruling dispensation at the Centre of "distorting history and erasing cultural legacies."
"Yet, in our times, we witness a disturbing and deliberate distortion of history. The legacy of our national icons is being erased, Bengal's cultural inheritance is being demeaned, linguistic diversity is being mocked, constitutional values are being hollowed out, and democracy is being reduced to ritual rather than reality," she said, alleging that institutions meant to protect citizens are increasingly being "weaponised" against them.
Banerjee also raised concerns over what she described as an "arbitrary and inhuman" SIR exercise, claiming it has pushed away many families into "anxiety, dispossession and despair, and has resulted in the loss of innocent lives".
"Every resident of Bengal is my family, and every injustice inflicted upon them wounds my conscience," she said.
Framing the current political situation as a larger ideological battle, the Chief Minister said the country is witnessing a struggle "between humanity and authoritarianism, between constitutional democracy and coercive power."
Invoking Netaji's historic call of "Dilli Chalo," Banerjee said the slogan was once a "clarion call" to reclaim India's soul from "injustice and domination", and that it resonates again at a time when democracy faces what she termed as "its gravest fest."
"On this solemn and historic day, I reaffirm my pledge that Bengal will not bow. Bengal will not be silenced. Bengal will not surrender its constitutional rights," she said, asserting that the fight would continue "tooth and nail" until justice "prevails and democracy is fully restored".
Concluding her message, Banerjee said, " Netaji's ideals would continue to illuminate and guide Bengal's struggle."