WB: Mamata Banerjee declines to speak at Netaji event after ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan raised in PM Modi’s presence

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a rare joint appearance at Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial on Saturday to launch an exhibition on the occasion of Netaji Subhash Bose’s birth anniversary. But Mamata Banerjee declined to speak at an event to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary when "Jai Shri Ram" slogans were raised during the event.

Banerjee had not started her speech when the slogan was raised by a section of the crowd at the Victoria Memorial event to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter.

She said such "insult" was unacceptable.

"This is a government programme and not a political programme. There has to be dignity. It doesn't behoove anybody to invite people and insult. I won't speak. Jai Bangla, Jai Hind," she said, wrapping up.

Meanwhile, PM Modi delivered a brief speech and said that Netaji always dreamt of a strong India and “from LAC to LOC, we are following his footsteps. Netaji would have been proud to see India helping other countries during pandemic, he said. The prime minister added that once Netaji had asked people not to lose hope for a free India. In the same manner, no one can stop India from being self-reliant. He also said that the country from now on will celebrate Netaji’s birth anniversary as ‘Parakram Divas’.

With PTI inputs