WB Govt Annuls Banga Bibhushan Award to BJP Rajya Sabha MP for Insulting Bose
Nagendra Roy got the award from Mamata before Assembly polls
Kolkata: West Bengal government on Thursday “withdrew and annulled” its highest civilian honour, Banga Bibhushan award, to BJP Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Roy, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, for making insulting remarks about iconic freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose recently. The step came a day after chief minister Suvendu Adhikari warned of actions against disrespect to Bose.
Interestingly, his predecessor and Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee had accorded the BJP MP with Banga Bibhushan award before the Assembly Election in her apparent bid to woo the Rajbanshi community votebank in the northern districts.
On Thursday, the state information and cultural affairs department, headed by Mr Adhikari, stated in an order, “certain facts and circumstances which have arisen/subsequently come to the notice of the Government are considered to be of such nature and seriousness as to raise a question as to the continued retention of the aforesaid honour by Shri Nagendra Ray and as to whether such continued retention is consistent with the dignity, prestige and purpose of the honour.”
It noted, “...the material available on record, has been duly considered by the competent authority” and “...upon such consideration, the competent authority is satisfied that the continued retention of the Banga Bibhushan by Shri Nagendra Ray is inconsistent with the dignity, prestige and purpose of the honour.”
The order underlined, “Now, therefore, the Government of West Bengal hereby withdraws and annuls the Banga Bibhushan conferred upon Shri Nagendra Ray on 21st February, 2026 with immediate effect. Consequently, Shri Nagendra Ray shall cease to be entitled to represent himself as a recipient of the Banga Bibhushan and shall not hereafter use, claim or derive any recognition, privilege or benefit specifically arising from such conferment.”
It added, “All concerned are hereby directed to take necessary action for deletion of his name from the relevant official records/lists of recipients of the Banga Bibhushan and for consequential action in accordance with this order.” The development however came on a day when a Bose statue was found damaged with right hand broken in New Alipore under ward no 81 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
