Thaindian News

Kolkata, Jan 21 (IANS) The latest political row in West Bengal involves Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday celebration Jan 23, an official holiday in the state.

The Left Front Saturday decided to disregard a government notification about the time allotted to the combine for garlanding the revolutionary’s statue.

Left Front chairman Biman Bose said the Left leaders had been told that they would be allowed to garland the statue Monday after 1.45 p.m.

“But the timing of Netaji’s birthday is 12.15 p.m. Every year we garlanded the statute at 12.15 after the chief minister paid his respects,” he said.

“So like in the past, this time too we will reach the venue at 12.15 and stand in the queue to garland the statute. If needed we will stand behind the ministers and the chief Minister.”

Asked what the Left leaders will do if the government did not permit them to pay their respects at that point of time, he said: “We will go back. But what is the problem if we garland the statue at that hour? A statue is meant for the public. So we will definitely stand in the queue.”