Now Reading: West Bengal strips BJP MP of Banga Bibhushan award
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West Bengal strips BJP MP of Banga Bibhushan award
The West Bengal government has withdrawn the Banga Bibhushan award from Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Roy, known as Ananta Maharaj, with immediate effect. The order on August 13 said retaining the honour…
The Story in Brief
The West Bengal government has withdrawn the Banga Bibhushan award from Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Roy, known as Ananta Maharaj, with immediate effect. The order on August 13 said retaining the honour was inconsistent with its dignity and purpose.
Roy, a BJP-backed MP from Cooch Behar, had sparked outrage by calling Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose a 'war criminal' and questioning the Azad Hind Fauj's role. The award was given in February by former chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed police action, and FIRs have been filed. Roy defends his remarks as based on official records.
The Indian Opinion
Both the BJP and Trinamool Congress have rushed to condemn Roy's remarks, yet their outrage looks convenient. Roy received the state's highest honour just months ago, and his influence among the Rajbanshi community was no secret. The narrative that this is purely about defending Netaji's legacy ignores the naked political calculation at play. The real test will be whether the same standards are applied to similar remarks by other leaders, regardless of party.
Sources (3): livemint.com, timesnownews.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
