Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday instructed the state police to arrest individuals who post derogatory comments about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on social media, and directed the Cyber Department to take action under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), officials said.
Police, cyber unit and DGP asked to act
Responding to complaints from legislators, including a delegation of North Bengal MLAs, the Chief Minister told the media that he had given instructions to the police and the Director General of Police (DGP) to take stringent action against those misusing online platforms to defame the freedom fighter.
"I will not name anyone, but the law is equal for MLAs, MPs, leaders of any party, government officials or police officers. The law is equal for everybody. The police will act according to the BNS," the Chief Minister said.
Adhikari also urged those who had posted derogatory material to delete the posts, but warned that removal would not necessarily prevent action: police would proceed with investigations whether or not the content remained online, he said.
Political context and specific references
When asked if action would be taken against BJP Rajya Sabha MP Anant Maharaj over alleged derogatory remarks, the Chief Minister declined to single out individuals, reiterating that legal provisions applied equally to all categories of persons, including elected representatives and government employees.
The state government action follows representations from a group of North Bengal legislators named by Adhikari as Dipak Barman and Malati Rava Ray, among others, who had sought decisive steps against what they described as misuse of social media relating to Netaji.
State programme: 'Netaji Seva Kendra' in every constituency
Separately, the Chief Minister announced that every MLA in the state will be asked to start a constituency-level “Seva Kendra” to help connect with local people. The centres will be named 'Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Seva Kendra' and, as per the announcement, will feature a dhoti-clad photograph of Netaji to be provided by the state government.
- Law enforcement: Police and DGP instructed to act under the BNS.
- Cyber action: State Cyber Department to pursue complaints under relevant cyber and penal provisions.
- Political outreach: Every MLA to open a 'Netaji Seva Kendra' in their constituency with a government-supplied photograph.
Legal framework and enforcement
The Chief Minister indicated the state would use the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the central penal framework adopted by states for investigation and prosecution, for offences involving online derogatory remarks. He emphasised that deletion of posts may not shield individuals from investigation, signalling that the state cyber apparatus will pursue offences where complaints are filed.
There was no immediate information from the police about the number of FIRs registered or arrests made as of Wednesday evening. The DGP's office and the Cyber Department were yet to issue formal statements detailing the specific sections of the BNS to be applied in such cases.
Public reaction and civic balance
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose remains a highly venerated figure in Bengal's public life and political culture. Measures aimed at curbing defamatory online speech often raise questions about balancing respect for historical figures and freedom of expression; however, the Chief Minister framed the move as an equal-application-of-law issue, underscoring that elected representatives and officials are not exempt.
| Item | Directive |
|---|---|
| Police | Take stringent action; arrest offenders |
| Cyber Department | Act under relevant sections of BNS |
| MLAs | Open 'Netaji Seva Kendra' in constituencies |
The state-provided photograph and the instruction to house a dhoti-clad image of Netaji at each Seva Kendra were presented by the Chief Minister as elements of a cultural and civic outreach strategy. He linked the initiative to broader political statements by national leaders, observing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had installed a statue of Netaji in Delhi at Kartavya Path.
Further details on implementation timelines for the Seva Kendra programme, and procedural guidelines for cyber prosecutions in such cases, are awaited from the state administration and law enforcement agencies.
Reported from Kolkata.
