KOLKATA: Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, while presenting the state budget on Friday, proposed to allocate Rs 200 crore – Rs 100 crore each to build an Azad Hind Monument in New Town and for setting up Jai Hind Bhabans in all districts – in honour of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th anniversary.
She also proposed to set aside Rs 5 crore for the Netaji State Planning Commission and another Rs 10 crore to raise a Netaji battalion in Kolkata Armed Police.
A tussle has been brewing between Trinamool and BJP over the legacy of the patriot, often leading to direct showdowns between the two sides. On January 23, during a Centre-organised official function at Victoria Memorial in Netaji’s honour – where both Banerjee and PM Modi were present – a section of the crowd chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans just as Banerjee was about to speak, prompting her to cancel her speech.
“Netaji was the first to give the idea of a National Planning Commission. Unfortunately, the present central government abolished the Planning Commission. In memory of Netaji’s contribution, Bengal will form the ‘Netaji State Planning Commission’,” Banerjee said.