The West Bengal government has withdrawn the Banga Bibhushan, a prestigious state honor, from BJP MP Nagendra Ray, widely known as Ananta Maharaj. This decision follows controversial statements made by Maharaj regarding national hero Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, where he questioned Netaji's capacity to form an army and alleged the Indian National Army was composed of British soldiers. The government's notice stated that certain facts and circumstances have arisen which are inconsistent with the dignity, prestige, and purpose of the honor, necessitating its revocation

The West Bengal government has withdrawn the Banga Bibhushan, a prestigious state honor, from BJP MP Nagendra Ray, widely known as Ananta Maharaj. This decision follows controversial statements made by Maharaj regarding national hero Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, where he questioned Netaji's capacity to form an army and alleged the Indian National Army was composed of British soldiers. The government's notice stated that certain facts and circumstances have arisen which are inconsistent with the dignity, prestige, and purpose of the honor, necessitating its revocation

The West Bengal government has withdrawn the Banga Bibhushan, a prestigious state honor, from BJP MP Nagendra Ray, widely known as Ananta Maharaj. This decision follows controversial statements made by Maharaj regarding national hero Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, where he questioned Netaji's capacity to form an army and alleged the Indian National Army was composed of British soldiers. The government's notice stated that certain facts and circumstances have arisen which are inconsistent with the dignity, prestige, and purpose of the honor, necessitating its revocation

The West Bengal government has issued a notice revoking the Banga Bibhushan, a state honour conferred on BJP Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Ray, also known as Ananta Maharaj, on February 21 this year by the former Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. The state honour is given to individuals in recognition of their distinguished and exemplary contributions to the state and its people.

The move comes after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Wednesday that legal and police action would be taken against those insulting India’s revered freedom fighters on social media.

“I urge those who have posted against Netaji to delete the posts and apologise for them. It is not that you will get relief after deleting such posts. The police will take action under specific sections of the law,” Adhikari had said on Wednesday.

Maharaj’s comments on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose have embarrassed the BJP. While addressing a meeting of the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association (GCPA) in North Bengal in July, Maharaj, who is a prominent figure among the indigenous Rajbanshi community, questioned Netaji’s capability to form an army of Indian soldiers.

“Did Netaji have the capacity to organise and form the Azad Hind Fauj? They were all British soldiers. The Indian National Army (INA) was misused,” Maharaj had said.

The government’s notice states that there is evidence on record which the competent authority believes “is inconsistent with the dignity, prestige and purpose of the honour.”

“And whereas, subsequent to the conferment of the honour, certain facts and circumstances which have arisen/subsequently come to the notice of the government are considered to be of such nature and seriousness as to raise a question as to the continued retention of the aforesaid honour by Shri Nagendra Ray alias Ananta Maharaj and as to whether such continued retention is consistent with the dignity, prestige and purpose of the honour,” reads the government notice issued by Special Commissioner and Director of Culture Kaushik Basu.

The notice also states that Maharaj will no longer be able to use the Banga Bibhushan to derive any recognition. The concerned department has been asked to delete the BJP MP’s name from the records of recipients of the state honour.

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