PM unfurls tricolour at Red Fort on 75th anniv of Azad Hind Fauj, attacks Cong for neglecting Bose's contribution

New Delhi, Oct 21: In an attack on the Congress for neglecting the contribution of Subhash chandra Bose, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that several good sons of the nation like Bose, B R Ambedkar and Sardar Patel were “forgotten in the favour of one family”.

Speaking after unfurling the tricolour at the Red Fort on the 75th anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's declaration of the formation of India's first independent government – the Azad Hind Government in 1943, the PM, said,'Netaji had promised an India where everyone has equal rights and equal opportunities. He had promised a prosperous nation which was proud of its traditions, development in all areas. He had promised to uproot 'divide and rule'. Even after so many years those dreams remain unfulfilled.'

The PM recalled that while remembering his days at Cambridge, Bose gad written,"Indians are taught that Europe is a bigger picture of the Great Britain and because of this our habit is to look at Europe from an English perspective'

Speaking at the event, seen as an attempt by the BJP to stake claim to the legacy of Netaji after trying earlier to lay stake to legacy of Dr B R Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel , the PM said, 'it has been our misfortune that even after independence, those who laid the foundation of India and our system, looked at India from an English spectacle. Our heritage, culture, education system, our curriculum have all suffered from this.

Today I can say this with certainty that if our nation was guided by the likes of Subhas Bose and Sardar Patel, if it was not looked at from a foreign perspective, then the situation of the country would be much different. It is sad that just to magnify the presence of one family, sons of India -- Patel, Ambedkar and Bose -- have been obliterated from our national discourse.'

The Prime Minister also unveiled a plaque to mark the anniversary. The plaque will be placed at barrack number three at the Red Fort where members of the Azad Hind Fauj faced trial. A museum will be also set up in the barrack.

PM Modi said that Bose’s administration was not just in name but he made plans.

“It had its own bank, its own currency, its own stamp and its own intelligence system… I bow down the parents who gave the country a leader like Subhash Chandra Bose Ji,” he said.

The Prime Minister also announced that a national award in the name of Bose will be given every year to police personnel who do excellent work in rescue and relief operations during any kind of disaster.

"From this year onwards, we will give an award in the name of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to police personnel who do exemplary work while rescuing and providing relief to people during the time of any disaster," he said.

Mr Modi said the award will be announced on January 23, Netaji's birthday.