Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is the biggest inspiration for Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Inaugurating postal stamps and dedicated galleries ‘Nirbhik Subhas’ and ‘Biplabi Bharat’, Modi said at an event in Victoria Memorial that once Netaji wanted to go to Delhi to free India and today Delhi is coming to Kolkata to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of the biggest Saint.
“Netaji would have been happy to see that India now gives a befitting reply to anyone who tries to hurt its sovereignty. The entire world is seeing the avatar of a strong India that Netaji envisioned, from LAC to LoC. Bengal has given the country many saints. It is from Bengal we even got our National anthem and National song. Self-reliant West Bengal will further help build a self-reliant India,” said Modi, adding that everyone should follow Netaji’s ideology.
The Prime Minister also said that Netaji would have been happy to see the way India has been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Netaji would have been very proud of India’s response to COVID-19. Netaji’s life, his work, his decisions are a big inspiration for all of us. I personally get energized every time I hear Netaji’s name. As India is about to step into 75th year of Independence, we have already made India ‘atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant),” the PM claimed.
Saluting the Indian National Army (INA), Modi remarked that these freedom fighters worked tirelessly with Netaji to bring back lost glory of the country.
“It was the good fortune of our government that INA veterans participated in the parade during January 26. I am privileged to honour them today. Netaji is an inspiration for India’s courage and every year we will mark this day as Parakram Diwas. It is our duty to remember the sacrifice of Netaji,” Modi observed.
Modi reminded the audience that when the world was discussing basic rights of women, Netaji had formed the Rani Jhansi regiment and connected them to the freedom struggle.
“He trained them and instilled in them a passion for the country and to fight for it. Netaji was ahead of his time and worked for the uplift of women. Everything was possible for him,” Modi said.
