Shri Narendra Modi pays rich tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Foundation Day of Azad Hind Fauz.

His war cry of ‘Chalo Dilli’ and ‘Give me blood and I will give you freedom’, gave Netaji a place in the hearts of every Indian: Shri Modi

Shri Modi throws light on the old relation Netaji Bose shares with Gujarat.

Chief Minister lauds contribution of Shri PA Sangma in public life.

 Shri Modi comes down heavily on the UPA’s failures to bring reforms in the past few years.

 On Friday 6^th July 2012, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose for his valour and contribution to the nation’s freedom movement. He was speaking at a function to mark the foundation day of the Indian National Army organized by the Azad Hind Fauz Trust. Former Speaker of the Lok Sabha Shri PA Sangma also attended the programme.

The Chief Minister stated that 6^th July is a prominent day in India’s history. Apart from being the foundation day of Azad Hind Fauz, it is also the birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

Shri Modi affirmed that Subhas Babu would always be remembered by the nation as a brave soldier who took active part in the struggle for freedom. He added that Netaji Bose was an individual who did not think twice from embracing whichever path he found appropriate for the good of the nation. Netaji Bose worked with Mahatma Gandhi as well as embraced revolutionary nationalism through armed struggle. The Chief Minister also lauded Netaji Bose’s organizational skills and leadership qualities. With his war cry of ‘Chalo Dilli’ and ‘Give me blood and I will give you freedom’, Netaji made a place in the hearts of every Indian, Shri Modi opined.

Shri Modi shared that Gujarat and Netaji Bose have a very old relation. The landmark 1938 session in which Netaji resoundingly won the Congress President election on his own merit happened on the soil of Gujarat. He reminded everyone that while this event should be celebrated, it isn’t only because one particular family was not in the limelight. But, Shri Modi affirmed that while a few vested interests can forget the event, Gujarat will not let it go unremembered in the annals of history. Just like Netaji Bose invigorated a nation with a cry of “Tume Mujhe Khoon Do, Mein Tumhe Aazadi Doonga”, Gujarat started the e-Gram Vishwa Gram Initiative of providing broadband to 18,000 villages from Haripura with the cry of “Tum Mujhe Saath Do, Mein Tumhe Vikas Doonga.”

Shri Modi shared that when Netaji Bose started his own radio in Germany, Shri MR Vyas from Gujarat played a pivotal role in managing its operations. Similarly, more than a hundred people from Gujarat joined the INA. He also shared that a journalist from Gujarat Shri Amrutlal Seth chronicled the story of the INA in newspaper ‘Janmabhoomi’. This was the first time such an exercise had happened all over India. There was also a family from Gujarat that gave their entire wealth to Netaji for his quest for freedom.

Shri Modi expressed apprehension at the state of affairs today and said that he fears that if things go the way they are today, the future generations will forget Sardar Patel and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. But, that will never be the case in Gujarat he added.

During his speech, the Chief Minister lauded the contribution of Shri PA Sangma towards public life. He said that he was a 9 time MP, served as Minister, Chief Minister and Speaker for many years butt no shadow of CBI, CAG fell on him. There is no taint on him. Shri Modi shared his memories of Shri Sangma conducting himself with childlike innocence as speaker that won him many hearts. Furthermore, he attributed these virtues to his Vanbandhu roots.

Coming down heavily on the UPA’s failures of the economic front, Shri Modi stated that after 20 years Dr. Manmohan Singh became Finance Minister and begun speaking but despite that, he was still the Prime Minister. So, what prevented him from speaking before the last 24 hours? Who stopped Dr. Singh from taking those steps, Shri Modi asked. He wanted to know if the Prime Minister got renewed vision after the Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee resigned or was it that he didn’t want the FM to taste success that too when the FM was from the Prime Minister’s party itself. Shri Modi concluded by saying that if Netaji Bose would be extremely concerned at the state of affairs in India today.

Paying his tributes to the unsung heroes of INA, Mr. P.A. Sangma expressed strong resentment against the present government for showing disrespect to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He described it unfortunate that there is no national memorial of Netaji in India’s capital in Delhi. He demanded fresh investigation into the circumstances under which Netaji reportedly died mysteriously.

Mr. Sangma had a word of praise for Mr. Modi for his leadership qualities and hailed Gujarat’s initiative in recognizing and eulogizing the sacrifices of INA soldiers.

Earlier INA Trust Secretary Brig Chhinkara gave details of the Trust.

Prominent among those present at the function included Vidhan Sabha Speaker Ganpat Vasava, Ministers Smt. Anandiben Patel, Shri Fakirbhai Vaghela, Shri Mangubhai Patel, Jaswantsinh, BJP National General Secretary Shri Anant Kumar and Shri Arvind Netam.