Mamata Banerjee protests âdeeply hurtfulâ remarks against Netaji by BJP MP
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) held a protest next to a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Kolkataâs
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) held a protest next to a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Kolkataâs Shyambazar area over controversial remarks made against Bose by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP. The BJP MP, Nagendra Roy, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, courted controversy when he described Netaji as a âwar criminalâ, questioned his leadership and the role of the Azad Hind Fauj in Indiaâs freedom struggle.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson was joined by TMC MP Dola Sen and MLA Kunal Ghosh. The BJP MPâs remarks were âdeeply hurtfulâ to people of the State, Ms. Banerjee said, hailing Bose in slogans and songs. While the Trinamool chairperson raised slogans in support of Bose, there were shouts of âchor, chorâ (thief, thief) directed against her. The slogans came barely two days after Ms. Banerjeeâs convoy was surrounded by protesters in Halisahar in North 24 Parganas district, with similar slogans raised against her by locals.
The incident in Kolkata triggered tension in the Shyambazar 5 Point Crossing area. âThose who themselves are tainted should not garland Netaji,â the protesters raising slogans against the Trinamool chairperson said. The remarks by the BJP MP have evoked a strong reaction in political circles here. A written complaint was filed at the Siliguri Cyber ââCrime Police Station on the insult to Bose by an organisation describing itself as Netaji Bahini.
The West Bengal BJP leadership has distanced themselves from the statements, clarifying that Mr. Royâs comments were entirely personal and not endorsed or believed by the party.
The BriefWire