Cong wants Netaji regiment in Army

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 26

Under fire for allegedly hiding the truth of Subhash Chandra Bose from the world, the Congress has made a bold attempt in Parliament to warm up to the deceased leader’s memory with its young MP Deepender Hooda seeking an Indian Army regiment in Netaji’s name.

Flanked by the grand nephew of Netaji, Saugata Bose, who applauded the move, Deepender introduced in Lok Sabha a private members’ Bill titled, “The Bose Regiment Bill 2015” seeking support for the constitution and regulation of a new Army regiment to be known as the Bose Regiment.

“The Regiment in Netaji’s name would be a fitting tribute to the leader whose Indian National Army hastened the process of India’s Independence,” Deepender said moving the Bill which demands the dedicated Netaji Regiment to ensure security of the Indo-Myanmar, Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bangladesh borders and the country’s north eastern frontiers.

“Let Netaji be the first and the last Individual to have this ultimate honour of having a Regiment in our Army after his name,” said the MP from Rohtak and Congress spokesperson.

The Bill comes at a time when the country is debating the troubled relationship between Netaji and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The Congress however used today’s occasion to argue that Netaji was close to Nehru.

“Netaji’s INA’s had four regiments of which three were named after his political peers of the time - Mahatama Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad,” said Deepender asking why Netaji would do such a thing if he was at cross purposes with Nehru.

As the young Congress leader batted for his party and the former PM, he recalled historical facts to show that Bose shared the Nehruvian vision of socialism appointing Nehru chairman of a Congress committee Bose formed to boost planned development. 

“Netaji was twice elected Congress President in 1938 and 1939 and dreamed of nation building based on planned socialism and secularism. He was the first leader to propose the creation of a Planning Commission- like institution as early as 1938 and he clearly preferred the socialistic approach to economic policy and planning. That goes to show that he shared the Nehruvian ideology,” Deepender said with the BJP working to de-classify the files related to Netaji’s death.

Deepender’s reference was to the development wherein after being elected Congress President at the Haripura session in 1938, Netaji constituted a National Planning Committee (a precursor to the Planning Commission) and invited Nehru to chair it.