Declare Netaji’s birthday as ‘Deshprem Divas’: CPI-M

January 23rd, 2011 - 7:06 pm ICT by IANS  

Manmohan Singh Agartala, Jan 23 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Sunday reiterated its demand to declare Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday Jan 23 as “Deshprem Divas”.”We once again urge the centre to observe Netaji’s birthday as ‘Deshprem Divas’ throughout the country,” CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here.

“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, responding to a letter of four Left parties, has recently expressed his government’s inability to declare such an occasion,” he added.

Besides CPI-M, the Communist Party of India, the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Forward Bloc too have been asking the centre to officially celebrate the day as “Deshprem Divas”, but the government turned down the plea saying that such a move will trigger a flurry of similar demands with regard to other freedom fighters and national leaders.

“The government’s logic is unacceptable. Former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday has been celebrated as Children’s Day. If the centre declares Netaji’s birthday as ‘Deshprem Divas’, it could be observed as a national integration day across India,” Karat added.

The CPI-M has also urged other political parties to raise the issue with the central government.

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