Ramakanta Biswas

Bhubaneswar: A day after the Centre constituted a high-level committee to commemorate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary, the Odisha unit of Congress levelled allegations of poor representation of the State in the panel.

The party lamented that only three members from Odisha have found place in the committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing a presser here, Congress spokesperson Nishikant Mishra alleged that as many as 26 members from West Bengal have been inducted in the committee looking at the upcoming assembly elections in the State.

"A sarpanch from Surat has been named as a member of the committee. But not an MLA from Cuttack, the birthplace of Netaji, did find a place in the panel," Mishra said.

"The Centre has created a wrong precedent only to gain political mileage and belittle Odisha and Netaji Subash Bose's connection," Mishra added.

The Congress leader further added that among the 16 MPs named as members of the panel, 11 are from West Bengal. Mishra demanded inclusion of at least 25 members from Odisha in the committee.

On the other hand, the BJP dismissed the allegations of Congress and said the efforts made by PM Narendra Modi to pay tribute to the great warrior of modern India should not be politicised.

"When it comes to honouring great personalities, it should be conducted without any party affiliation and PM Narendra Modi is well aware of it. Congress party which did not give due respect to Netaji when he was alive is now doing cheap politics over his birth anniversary celebration which is extremely unfortunate," said State BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan.

Meanwhile, the ruling-BJD did not endorse the allegations of Congress.

"Three members from Odisha have found place in an all-India committee which is certainly not a small thing. It is a welcome move," said Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)

scrollToTop