It is reported that the Centre is considering declaring 23rd January, birthday of INA founder Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, as a national holiday.

Several MPs raised queries during Question Hour in the Upper House of Parliament yesterday. Ritabrata Banerjee, who was recently expelled from the primary membership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), pitched for declaration of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday on 23rd January as ‘national holiday’.

“23rd January should be declared as a day of patriotism and should be declared as a national holiday as well, in memory of the services rendered by Nataji Subhas Chandra Bose for the country’s freedom struggle. It would be a befitting tribute to the forgotten national hero of the country’s Independence struggle,” Banerjee said.

Intervening, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu said that he was sure the Centre would soon take an ‘acceptable’ decision in the matter.