Kolkata: The irony wasn’t lost on anyone.
A BJP Rajya Sabha MP who was conferred West Bengal’s highest civilian award Banga Bibhushan by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government six months ago was stripped of the honour on Thursday by the BJP-helmed state government.
The West Bengal government withdrew the Banga Bibhushan, conferred upon Nagendranath Roy, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, following his controversial remarks on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The decision was announced a day after chief minister Suvendu Adhikari directed the police to take stringent action, including arrests, against those making derogatory remarks about Netaji on social media.
The law would apply equally to MPs, MLAs and government officials, Suvendu had stressed.
Roy recently described the revered freedom fighter as a “war criminal,” and questioned his leadership and the role of Azad Hind Fauj in India’s freedom struggle.
The Rajya Sabha MP, who hails from Cooch Behar and is a leader of Rajbanshi community, was conferred the Banga Bibhushan by then-CM Mamata Banerjee on February 21, 2026, months before the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was voted out of power by the BJP after a 15-year rule in the state.
The incumbent government said “certain facts and circumstances” have arisen which raise a question on the continued “retention of the honour” by Nagendra Roy.
“The competent authority is satisfied that the continued retention of the Banga Bibhushan by Nagendra Roy is inconsistent with the dignity, prestige and purpose of the honour. Therefore, the government of West Bengal hereby withdraws and annuls the Banga Bibhushan conferred upon Nagendra Roy on 21 February 2026 with immediate effect,” the government said, without specifying the particular offence.
