There Should be 4 National Capitals For India, Make Bengal Alternate One: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that India should have four capitals on rotation basis. The chief minister said there should be four capitals in a country as vast

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that India should have four capitals on rotation basis. The chief minister said there should be four capitals in a country as vast as India and the demand regarding this will be raised in the parliament.

”One nation, one political party will not work,” she said.

#WATCH | West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raises slogans while commemorating the 125th birth anniversary of #NetajiSubhashChandraBose, in Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/ye8G1tHD2m

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2021

Addressing a programme at Netaji Bhavan here on his 125th birth anniversary, Banerjee described Bose as an icon who had advocated unity among all communities in the country.

She also demanded that Netaji’s birthday on January 23 be declared a national holiday.

Banerjee said, “We don’t remember Netaji before the elections. He is in our hearts for 365 days. We are in touch with his family.”

We have observed 'Deshnaayak Divas' today. Rabindranath Tagore called Netaji 'Deshnaayak'. What is this 'Parakram': Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM, on birth anniversary celebrations of Subhash Chandra Bose https://t.co/rADN6Czgcw

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2021

Mamata also attacked the Centre for abolishing the Planning Commission, which, according to her, was conceptualised by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

“Why the national Planning Commission, which was conceptualised by Netaji in independent India, was dissolved? Why the demand for a holiday on Netaji’s birthday by our government not yet met?” Banerjee said in her brief speech.

The Narendra Modi government disbanded the Planning Commission in 2014 and formed the Niti Aayog in stead.

I believe that India must have 4 rotating capitals. The English ruled the entire country from Kolkata. Why should there be only one capital city in our country: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee pic.twitter.com/ifOoFXah9g

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2021

She also said Netaji was described as ‘Deshnayak’ by Rabindranath Tagore.

“We are celebrating his birthday as Deshnayak Diwas,” Banerjee added.

The West Bengal government has already set up a committee to conduct year-long celebrations till January 23, 2022 across the state. It also announced that a monument, named after Azad Hind Fauj, will be built at Rajarhat. Banerjee also said that a university, named after Bose, is being set up which shall be funded entirely by the state, and will have tie-ups with foreign universities.

The Chief Minister will participate in a grand march from Kolkata’s Shyambazar five-point crossing to Red Road on Saturday. “A siren will be sounded today at 12.15 pm. We urge everyone to blow ‘Shankh’ (conch shell) at home,” she said, demanding that the Centre must also declare January 23 as a national holiday.

Banerjee said that this year’s Republic Day parade in Kolkata would also be dedicated to Bose.

(With inputs from agencies)