Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose kin calls for change of islands' name

Jumping on the name change bandwagon, West Bengal BJP vice-president Chandra Kumar Bose — who is also a relative of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose — has now written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him to rename Andaman & Nicobar Islands as 'Shaheed and Swaraj Islands'. He said it will be a tribute to Netaji, forgotten by previous governments. He also requested that the PM announce it during his visit to the Island.

In his letter, Bose has said that Netaji "as the first Prime Minister of United Free India" had hoisted the national flag at Port Blair on December 30, 1943, thus establishing the Azad Hind government. He added that following this, Netaji had renamed Andaman & Nicobar Islands to Shaheed & Swaraj Islands.

Bose also writes, "India is celebrating the 75th year of flag hoisting by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on December 30, 2018. It is very heartening to note that you will be hoisting the Tricolour at Gymkhana Grounds, Port Blair, exactly the same location where the first Prime Minister of United India had unfurled the flag. There has been a demand from the people of our great nation that the Government of India, rename Andaman & Nicobar Islands as Shaheed & Swaraj Islands as named by Netaji."