The Bengal authorities on Thursday withdrew the Banga Bibhushan award, the state’s highest civilian award, conferred upon BJP MP Nagendra Ray, popularly often called Ananta Maharaj, for alleged derogatory remarks about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The transfer got here lower than 24 hours after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed the police to take stringent motion, together with arrests, in opposition to these making derogatory remarks about Netaji, a freedom fighter and a revered determine in Bengal, on social media, and stated the legislation would apply equally to MPs, MLAs and authorities officers.
Adhikari’s course to the police got here days after Ananta Maharaj described Netaji as a “warfare prison” and questioned his management and the position of the Azad Hind Fauj in India’s freedom wrestle.
The BJP MP hails from Cooch Behar within the northern a part of the state and is a frontrunner of the Rajbanshi neighborhood.
The BJP MP was honoured with Banga Bibhushan in February, when the Mamata Banerjee authorities was in energy.
The award is given in recognition of distinguished and exemplary contribution to the sate and its folks and carries with it a excessive diploma of dignity and status, the state authorities stated in an announcement.
The federal government stated “sure information and circumstances” have arisen which elevate a query on the continued “retention of the honour” by Nagendra Ray.
“The competent authority is happy that the continued retention of the Bnaga Bibhushan by Nagendra Ray is inconsistent with the dignity, status and objective of the honour. Due to this fact, the federal government of West Bengal hereby withdraws and annuls the Banga Bibhushan conferred upon Nagendra ray on 21 February 2026 with fast impact,” the federal government stated, with out particularly mentioning the actual offence.
