Justice not done to Netaji in free India: Bengal governor

Observing that justice was not done to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in post independence India, West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi Tuesday called for declaring his birth anniversary (Jan 23) as a national holiday.

"I very strongly feel justice was not done towards Netaji in the post-Independence period. He should have received far more honour and prestige than what was given to him," Tripathi said at the Netaji Bhawan here.

Describing Netaji as a great warrior and an inspiration to the youth, Triptahi said much was there to be discovered, written and conveyed to the public about the leader.

Calling for declaring Jan 23 as a national holiday, Tripathi said: "If you honour your heroes, if you respect them by observing a holiday, it is good."

Reacting to the development, Ashok Ghosh, the state secretary of the Netaji founded Forward Bloc called for celebrating Jan 23 as "Desh Prem Divas" across the country.

"It's good that the governor has called for declaring Jan 23 as a national holiday but I would urge him to request the prime minister to declare the day as 'Desh Prem Divas' across the country. If it can be celebrated in West Bengal, why can't it be done in the rest of India," he said.