Ministry of Home Affairs
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the closing ceremony of Iconic Events Week organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, today
Today, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has initiated the development of the Subhas Dweep into Subhas Babu Memorial to make it a big tourist destination, this memorial will preserve the memories of Netaji
By associating 21 big islands of Andaman and Nicobar with our bravehearts, Shri Modi has not only boosted the morale and honored all the three services, but has also given the values of enthusiasm, inspiration and patriotism to the young generation of India
Andaman and Nicobar is an important part of India from the historical point of view, and realizing its importance, the Government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is working towards increasing its tourism potential as well as making it self-sufficient
If the youth want to know the struggle of Netaji then they should read about his journey from Calcutta to Berlin and the torturous journey from Germany to Japan in submarine, Netaji has put this perfect example in front of the world of what a person can do for the country in a short span of his life
At the time when the youth dreamed of becoming an ICS and working in the British Government, at that time Netaji topped the ICS exam but did not accept the job of the British and joined the movement to liberate the country
Netaji's personality was multifaceted, he was not only an excellent student but also an excellent administrator, politician and fighter, he went from Calcutta to Europe with his mastery in espionage techniques
The country can never repay the debt of Netaji, but by building a memorial of Netaji on Subhas Dweep, the Government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is making an effort to make the youth aware of his life struggle, patriotism and bravery
The Cellular Jail is not a tourist destination but a pilgrimage centre for the freedom movement, At this place, Veer Savarkar showed unshakable spirit and from 1857 to 1947 many fighters did penance for the freedom movement
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the closing ceremony of Iconic Events Week organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, today. Several dignitaries including Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri DK Joshi, and Union Home Secretary were also present on the occasion.
In his address, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that under the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given responsibility to every ministry to present the lives of many known and unknown freedom fighters in the country, before the new generation. He said that Ministry of Home Affairs  is fortunate that the task of preserving all the memories, of the pole star of Indian Independence and our great beloved freedom fighter Netaji, from his birth till today, has been given to the MHA. He said that along with this, today is also important because today, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has added another laurel to the name of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Shri Shah said that today, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has initiated the development of the Subhas Dweep into Subhas Babu Memorial to make it a big tourist destination, this memorial will preserve the memories of Netaji. Along with this, those who laid down their lives for the security of the country's freedom from 1947 till today, shed every drop of blood for the motherland and protected it, some survived and some were martyred, 21 major islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been named after such Param Vir Chakra awardees.
Shri Amit Shah said that no country in the world has named any island or land after the martyrs to express their gratitude. By associating 21 big islands of Andaman and Nicobar with our bravehearts, Shri Modi has not only boosted the morale and honored all the three services, but has also given the values of enthusiasm, inspiration and patriotism to the young generation of India. He said that “I would also like to thank and congratulate the soldiers of all the three forces of the country because from today their valor is going to be preserved along with the history of the country.
The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that whenever we hear the name of Netaji, we are filled with enthusiasm. So much courage, bravery, patriotism and patriotic acts, all these four qualities are rarely found in a person. He said that Netaji was that brave man of our freedom struggle who had all these four qualities in him. He said that Netaji's personality had the attraction like a sun of spring. In the freedom movement, he continued to lead the Congress as its President for 2 years, formed the Forward Block, pondered over the economic front, and when he became the Mayor of Calcutta, he also showed good administrative ability. When Netaji felt that there was a chance to liberate India in World War II, he traveled to Berlin tricking the British. Shri Shah said that if the youth want to know about Netaji then they should read about his two journeys, Netaji has put this perfect example in front of the world of what a person can do for the country in a short span of his life.
Shri Amit Shah said that for Netaji, there was nothing greater than respect for the country, respect for the people of the country and his own self-respect. He said that the two things that Prime Minister Modi has done in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands today, both these actions have written the name of Andaman and Nicobar islands in golden letters in the history of India's independence and in the history of security of India after independence. He said that all know the history of Andaman and Nicobar. The Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar is like the pilgrimage place of freedom, where Veer Savarkar had shown his unwavering spirit while suffering immense tortures and from 1857 to 1947, many prisoners did penance for the freedom movement. He said that for the youth of the entire country, this Cellular Jail is not a memorial but a place of pilgrimage for the freedom movement. Along with this, this island group of Andaman and Nicobar is the fortunate land which was the first to be liberated on 30 December 1945. He said that Netaji had liberated Andaman by hoisting the flag on this land and today a memorial is being built on this island in the memory of Netaji. The country can never repay the debt of Netaji, but we can make a small effort. We can build a memorial of Netaji so that the new generation can learn from his life, bravery and patriotism.
The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said during Iconic week, the Ministry of Home Affairs has preserved the memory of Netaji by organizing various programmes at Moirang in Manipur, Kohima, Chessu and Rujhajo in Nagaland, Haripura, Bardoli and Surat in Gujarat, Kolkata and Cuttack. He said that Netaji did not like to do the job for the British, he preferred to resign and join the struggle to liberate the country. He became the youngest Mayor of Kolkata, left the Congress after differences of methodology with Gandhiji and pursued his own different path. When he felt that now the country can be liberated, he formed the Azad Hind Fauj. Netaji was a multi-faceted personality, brilliant student, excellent administrator, skilled politician and fighter. He went through a torturous journey of 7,275 kms, from Kolkata to Peshawar, from there to Moscow and from Moscow to Berlin. From Germany to Indonesia and from there to Japan, a journey of 27,000 kms depicts the courage of Netaji. He said that today the whole country considers Netaji as its pride, salutes his courage and we all are proud of Netaji. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has installed a grand statue of Netaji on the ‘Kartavya Path’ to honor the history of Netaji. Mr. Shah said that after independence, a lot of efforts were made to forget Netaji, to write a new history by ignoring his role, but those who are brave are not dependent on anyone to get a place in history, rather history itself embraces them as its child. In the same way, today Netaji is shining like the pole star of the freedom movement. He said that it is the responsibility of all of us to highlight the role played by Netaji in the freedom movement, before the formation of the Azad Hind Fauj and throughout the struggle of the Azad Hind Fauj, and to inspire the coming generations.
Shri Amit Shah said that today is Netaji's 126th birth anniversary and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has named the Netaji's birthday as Parakram Divas. And now for many years, 23rd January will be celebrated as Parakram Divas. As long as Parakram Divas is celebrated, the ‘great escape journey of Netaji’ will come to the mind of the whole world. Shri Shah said that Netaji memorial will be built at Subhash Dweep in Andaman and Nicobar Island, which was an important part of this movement.
The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has brought many schemes for the development of the archipelago. The provisioning of 100% drinking water facilities to 266 villages has been completed, by bringing connectivity through submarine optical fiber in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Shri Modi has opened up the possibilities of development. Three sections of the Chennai Andaman & Nicobar project have become functional and the remaining 5 sections will also be functional soon. Pahal portal for Performance Grading Index has also been created and under Ayushman Bharat Yojana every resident of Andaman and Nicobar is getting complete health coverage up to Rs. 5 lakh, 20 MW solar plant has been commissioned in the power sector which is going to be the main factor of energy and development for our islands in the upcoming days. Roads and bridges have also been built at a cost of about 203 crores and a new terminal at Veer Savarkar International Airport is also under construction. He said that the Narendra Modi government is committed to develop the islands in such a way that the islands become self-sufficient. He said that the two things Shri Modi has done today - connecting our 21 bravehearts who received the Param Vir Chakra with the unnamed islands and making Subhash Bridge a memorial in the memory of the Netaji - the name of the Andaman and Nicobar islands will be associated with the history of the country in golden letters for many centuries.