DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Dec 19: The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Statue Establishment Committee today organized a public meeting at Diglipur bazaar to oppose the installation of statue near Vivekananda stadium.
High level sources said that Andaman and Nicobar Administration has decided to install the same Statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose right opposite to the Administrative Block of Diglipur. The committee said that they were just informed by the administration about the decision and they are not agreed to this.
Earlier the foundation for the statue had already been laid at the earmarked land on 03-01-2014. The Member of Parliament on 15, October 2014 sat for a Hunger Strike at Subhash Nagar village of North Andaman protesting against removal of the statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and demanding immediate re-installation of the same at the same place. As per the assurance letter a high level committee consisting of Principle Secretary (Revenue), Secretary Law, Deputy Commissioner etc visited Diglipur on 20th October 2014 and also visited the spot to see whether the site in question is permissible spot for erection of the statue or not. Later the committee submitted the proposal to install the statue at stadium.
The Secretary NSCSEC Mr. M L Das told Andaman Sheekha today that the statue is owned by them and they collected money for it. “We brought the statue from mainland and our request to transport subsidy was also denied by the administration. Then how can administration take away our statue and install it somewhere else?” he said.
Putting blame on Administration he said that “We did not decide about the place for installation of statue. We wanted the statue to be installed at the centre of the Dolphin Junction but it was Administration, which suggested this place and removed the electric transformer from the spot for the smooth installation. The Panchayat members of Subhashgram and other officers attended the function. The Police also did not interfere earlier. We on behalf of people of Subhashgram people need this place only. We have already send a petition to Prime Minister and President of India with proof that after the Supreme Court’s Order the Administration and other people installed statues on road side. About 1300 people signed the petition to reinstate the statue at the same place.
Adding that the committee did not encroach any land for the installation Mr. Das added “We never encroached the land we are having the NOC for installation of statue on the said land. Installation of the statue of Capt Ashim Bhattacharya at Junglighat Park by Kuldeep Rai Sharma, President ANTCC on 25 July 2013, Unveiling of statue of Anna by M K Stalin on 18.10 2013 at Light house junction and Param Veer Chakra Memorial at Marina Park this year are the clear cut examples of the Road side installation of statues.”
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