D J Venkatesh
Diglipur, Oct 16: The Battle lines are drawn. The Member of Parliament of A & N Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray and his team are ready for Hunger Strike, which will begin from tomorrow at Subhash Gram village of Diglipur with sole demand of re-installing the statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the site, from where it was removed just a few days back by the Revenue Department.
The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has made elaborate security arrangements around the venue considering the sensitivity of the issue. As per reports the Member of Parliament was present at the protest site till late night today, supervising the sitting arrangement of Hunger Strike site.
While the Member of Parliament says that he is fighting for the cause of public and the national freedom hero, Subhash Chandra Bose many in the Administration believe that the Hunger Strike is totally unwanted as according to National Highway Act and recent Supreme Court’s Verdict there can’t be any statue at the proposed site.
When questioned, the Member of Parliament said that he is aware of the law and he is not willing to answer in this point.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha exclusively the Member of Parliament today blamed Administration for removing the statue and expressed his anger on the committee formed by Administration. “This committee is meaningless. A freedom hero who sacrificed his life for the Country, the Administration can’t provide a 9 meter land for his statue? Why they need to form a committee for this issue? Is this India or Pakistan? I am sitting on Hunger Strike from tomorrow if the Administration can, remove me from Hunger Strike,” the MP said.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament has written a letter to the President of India, Prime Minister, Home Minister of India and BJP’s National President in which he mentioned that removal of statue of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose from Subashgram village in Diglipur Tehsil by the Administration has hurt the sentiments of the large numbers of residents of the area and people are in agitating mood.
He mentioned in his letter that the Gram Sabha approved the demand of the villagers on 02nd October, 2012 and passed resolution to install Netaji’s Statue within the plot bearing S.No. 193/1 covering an area of 0.0101 hect. situated at Subashgram Village.
The MP said that this work finds mention in the Annual Plan of the Gram Panchayat at Serial No. 34 of the Annexure, which has been approved by the Chief Planning Officer, Zilla Parishad during 2013.
“The Pradhan also requested the revenue authority to issue NOC for the purpose, as is generally taken for Panchayat works. The revenue authority has also issued NOC for the same in the year 2013. The Panchayat has accordingly prepared an estimate for installing the statue of Netaji. However, the same could not materialize on account of paucity of funds etc. The letter of the Assistant Commissioner reveals to facilitate the installation of Netaji Statue in the said area that the transformer of Electricity department as well as few encroachments in the vicinity were removed with the consent of the then Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, North & Middle Andaman District,” the MP added.
According to the Member of Parliament following this the Gram Panchayat erected a grill fencing around the earmarked area, which exists even today.
In the meanwhile, the residents of Panchayat formed a committee namely ‘Subash Chandra Bose Statue Establishment Committee’ and collected funds for installing the statue by the villagers themselves. The foundation for the statue had already been laid at the earmarked land on 03-01-2014.
The statue was procured from the funds of the villagers by the Committee and erected on 21st September, 2014 covering an area of 1.4 x 1.4 mtrs.
“However, within hours of installation of the statue at the earmarked location, the statue was removed by the revenue authorities citing a verdict of the Hon’ble Apex Court passed in IA No 10 of 2012 in SLP (C) No 8519 of 2006. Since then the issue has gained prominence and has been agitating the minds of the people, as they feel that, it is a great dishonor to the National Hero,” the MP mentioned.
According to the MP the order of the Hon’ble Apex Court is being misinterpreted.
“The Hon’ble Apex Court’s order is to prevent obstruction on the right of use of a road, path, sideway or a public utility space. The proposed earmarked space is a government land classified as House site recorded in Form AN (i.e Government land available for disposal) and is not falling under any of the condition of the Apex Court. It may also have to be noted here that the adjacent land is recorded in favour of Tamizhar Sangham, allotted in the year 1995,” Mr. Ray mentioned adding that the authorities have removed the statue and dumped it in the verandah of Panchayat Building where it is lying on ground.
In his letter he demanded intervention of the President, Prime Minister, Home Minister of Indian for restoring the public faith on the BJP Government.
