DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, North Andaman, Oct 15: The lone Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray today threatened to go for a Hunger Strike if he is not allowed to re-install the statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in Subhash Gram Village of Diglipur Island.
Last month a Statue of Subash Chandra Bose was installed at North Andaman’s, Diglipur Island’s, Subash Gram Village by the villagers and members of Members of Netaji Bhavna Manch but on the very next day officials of Andaman’s Revenue Department removed the Statue from the site, citing Supreme Court’s ban on installation of Statues in Public Places.
Entire Diglipur Islands, remained tensed following removal of Netaji’s Statue on whom, the said village of Diglipur Island was named nearly six decades ago.
The Member of Parliament with villagers today visited the Subhash Gram Panchayat, where the removed statue was kept and also visited the removal site.
Later he visited the Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur office and handed over a letter to the Assistant Commissioner requesting him to allow him to install him the statue on 16.10.2014 in writing by today failing which he will sit for Hunger Strike on 16.10.2014. Later the date was changed to 17.10.2014.
At evening the Member of Parliament addressed a massive public meeting at Diglipur Island’s main Bazaar attacking the administration directly for removal of Netaji’s.
“The administration has pulled down the statue. This is a conspiracy to insult Modi government. If the demands are not fulfilled, I shall sit on Hunger Strike from 17 Oct and request public to attend the hunger strike along with me,” he said during the public meeting.
In the meantime Deputy Commissioner N & M Andaman reached Diglipur and held a meeting with Asst. Commissioner of Diglipur.
Meanwhile, talking to Andaman Sheekha the Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur, Mr. Arava Gopi krishna, IAS, today said that on Sunday he along with Deputy Commissioner had a meeting with Pradhan of Subhashgram and Concerned Committee as well as public and have assured that the final decision will be taken within a week.
“As per new Land policy 2013 the decision have to take by the Revenue authorities at Port Blair and the NOC of that particular land was issued to Pradhan, Subhashgram not to the Statue Committee and we already communicated to the Deputy Commissioner and other higher authorities regarding this matter and as soon as any communication is received to this office the same will be communicated to the Member of Parliament,” he said.
