New Delhi, 12th January, 2011

Demand for DESH PREM DIVAS           

The life and struggle of the great revolutionary patriotic leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose have been inspiring his countrymen for decades together.  He is hailed by all his countrymen as a great leader very near and dear to their hearts.  His supreme sacrifice and love for his country are rare instances of noble quality that are found in the history of our freedom struggle.  Gandhiji himself once hailed him as the 'patriot of patriots'.  Netaji's name in modern India stands as a glowing symbol of patriotism.  Twice - elected President of Indian National Congress, Subhas Chandra sacrificed many of his worldly comforts and prospects like the ICS-posting, president-ship of Indian National Congress or allurement of post-independence high-ranking national position.  On the other hand, he preferred a life full of suffering, eleven-time imprisonment in the British jails, highly risky unprecedented 'great escape' to continue his anti-imperialist struggle for the cause of the country.  But unfortunately, we have failed to honour him properly at the official level in the post-independence era.

People of India are, therefore, demanding since long and urging upon the Government of India to officially declare Netaji Subhas Chandra's birthday as the Desh Prem Divas - the day of Patriotism.

In the present countrywide situation where moral values and love for country are withering away, the sprit of patriotism is urgently needed to be inculcated among the young generation.  This can be best achieved by remembering and following the ideology and the life and struggle of Netaji Subhas.

In view of this, people of the country since long are urging upon the Government of India to declare 23rd January - the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as the DESH PREM DIVAS.  But unfortunately, the Congress-led Government at the Centre has not yet conceded to the long-standing demand of the people.  The Netaji Birth Centenary Committee, in the year 1996, headed by the-then Prime Minister of India also recommended this DESH PREM DIVAS.  The General Secretaries of the four Left Parties - CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc and R.S.P. - jointly wrote to Dr. Manmohan Singh on 31st December 2009 with the request to declare DESH PREM DIVAS.  But he has not yet replied to their letter.  Meanwhile, in response to the Forward Bloc MP's Special Mention in the Rajya Sabha, the Government of India has outright rejected the demand for DESH PREM DIVAS on some misleading deplorable arguments.

In such a situation, the All India Forward Bloc has decided to go to the people to strengthen this justified demand and are organizing a two-day long programme of 'stay & dharna' in New Delhi and other State Capitals, along with district headquarters of different States, on 12th and 13th January 2011, from where mass deputations, with thousands of mass-signature, will call on the President of India, through different State Governors and District Magistrates to press the demand for DESH PREM DIVAS with immediate effect.

We look forward to spontaneous support of the people of different walks of life, along with the print and electronic media, to highlight this programme and to strengthen the demand for DESH PREM DIVAS on Netajji's birthday i.e. on 23rd January.

Debabrata Biswas

General Secretary