Netaji biggest source of inspiration for Atmanirbhar Bharat dream: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose would have been proud to see that the world is witnessing a strong India from the LAC to the LOC. The Line of Control (LoC) divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, while the Line of Actual Control (LAC) separates India and China.

The prime minister said that Netaji is the biggest source of inspiration for the dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) and Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal).

Netaji would have been proud that the government he dreamt of is fighting a pandemic with vaccines developed by it, and gave a befitting reply whenever its sovereignty was challenged, Modi said on the 125th birth anniversary of Bose which was celebrated by the Centre as Parakram Diwas.

“I sometimes wonder how Netaji would have felt had heseen how a new and strong India is taking shape,” he said at a programme at the Victoria Memorial Hall here.

“From the LAC to LoC, the world is witnessing a strong India that was once envisioned by Netaji. India today is giving a befitting reply wherever attempts are made to challenge its sovereignty,” he said noting that India has modern fighter aircraft such as Rafale and Tejas.

Speaking on India’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the prime minister said Netaji would have felt proud after seeing the way his country is fighting it. “India is inventing vaccines and is also helping other countries with it. Netaji would have felt proud,” he said.

Referring to the question that Netaji had asked his nephew Sisir Bose before his daring escape from house arrest, Modi said, “If today Indians place their hands on their hearts and feel Netaji’s presence, they will hear the same question: Will you do something for me? This task is to make India self-reliant.”

Noting that Netaji had identified poverty, illiteracy and diseases among the biggest problems of the country, he said the society will have to come together to solve these problems.

He said Atmanirbhar Bharat has to be led by Atmanirbhar Bengal and Sonar Bangla. “Bengal needs to play an important role in the quest for Aatmnirbhar Bharat, just like the role that Netaji played in the freedom of the country,” he said.

Hailing Netaji as the embodiment of India’s power and inspiration, Modi said that the country has decided to celebrate the freedom fighters birth anniversary as Parakram Diwas to honour his indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation.

He said that in 2018, the government named the island of Andaman as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island and respecting the feelings of the country, the files related to him were also made public.

The prime minister inaugurated a commemorative stamp and a coin to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji and felicitated a few Indian National Army (INA) veterans.

Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said that Netaji’s Dilli Chalo (March to Delhi) call had united the nation against the British Rule.

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