Union Home Minister Amit Shahstressed that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was not given enough credit for his contribution to India’s freedom struggle and that efforts were made to diminish his image.

He then asserted that Ross Island has been renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island to give people who sacrificed their lives a place in history.

While addressing an event in the newly-renamed island, Amit Shah said Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a pilgrimage place of Independence. “I urge all the youths to visit Andaman and Nicobar once,” he said.

“This year we are celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. When we see the life of Netaji, we feel that injustice happened to him. The place he deserves was not given to him in history,” he added.

The Union Home Minister went on to add that for years, efforts were made to diminish the image of many leaders.

“But now it’s the time to give them a proper place in history. People who have sacrificed their lives should get a place in history. That’s why we renamed this island after Netaji,” he confirmed.

Paying rich tributes to Savarkar, Shah said that the title of ‘Veer’ was not given by the government to him, but it was given by the crores of people to acknowledge his valour and patriotism.

“Today some people are questioning Savarkar. It hurts when the person who was punished twice in his life is being questioned for his patriotism,” Shah said, adding that the people of the country have prefixed the word ‘Veer’ before Savarkar’s name with great respect and reverence, which no one can erase.

Shah said that to resolve the connectivity problem faced by the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for the Submarine Optical Fiber Scheme in 2018, which was inaugurated by him in 2020.