FORMER West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday faced “chor, chor” slogans in Kolkata, days after a similar protest greeted her in Halisahar, turning a TMC programme to protest controversial remarks about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose by a BJP MP into another politically charged confrontation. Banerjee reached Shyambazar five-point crossing in north Kolkata carrying a portrait of freedom fighter Khudiram Bose and paid tribute at the feet of Netaji’s statue at a programme organised by the TMC over alleged derogatory remarks against the iconic freedom fighter. The controversy was triggered by comments of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Roy, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, who described Netaji as a “war criminal”, questioned his leadership and raised doubts over the role of the Azad Hind Fauj in India’s freedom struggle.

 

The West Bengal BJP leaders have distanced themselves from the statements, clarifying that Roy’s comments were entirely personal and not endorsed or believed by the party. As Tuesday’s programme was underway, a group of people gathered near the venue and raised “chor, chor” slogans targeting Banerjee, briefly disrupting the proceedings. The slogans came barely two days after Banerjee’s convoy was surrounded by protesters in Halisahar in North 24 Parganas district. Banerjee sought to keep the focus on the freedom movement, invoking Netaji, Mahatma Gandhi and Matangini Hazra.