Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Aug 13: A fresh controversy erupted in Kolkata after a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was found vandalised, with its right arm broken, in the posh New Alipore area of the West Bengal capital.
The incident comes on the same day the West Bengal government announced the withdrawal and annulment of the “Banga Bibhushan” award conferred on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha member Nagendra Ray, alias Ananta Maharaj, reportedly over his recent alleged derogatory remarks about Netaji.
Local residents said the statue was intact when they last saw it on Wednesday night and suspected that the vandalism took place during the early hours.
Police have initiated a preliminary investigation and are examining footage from CCTV cameras installed in the area to identify those responsible.
Following the incident, local BJP workers and supporters reached the spot and alleged that miscreants took advantage of the darkness to break the right arm of Netaji's statue.
They said they would lodge a complaint with the police seeking an investigation into those involved. The matter would also be brought to the attention of the party's state leadership, they said.
BJP Secretary of the Kolkata (South) organisational district, Tarak Banerjee, recalled that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had warned on Wednesday that the state administration would not tolerate derogatory comments against Netaji and that those found guilty would face action under the law.
Banerjee also referred to the announcement that health service centres in all 294 Assembly constituencies of the state would be named Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Seva Kendra.
"The incident of breaking the right arm of the Netaji statue in Ward No. 81 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation in New Alipore on Wednesday night followed this announcement by the Chief Minister. So, he has demanded an immediate investigation into who was involved in the incident and strict legal action against the culprits. The sequence of events is therefore very significant. We demand a prompt investigation into who was involved in the incident and strict legal action against the culprits," Banerjee said.
Police are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the vandalism and the CCTV footage from the area.