Hoist Tricolour from Red Fort to mark Azad Hind anniversary, Netaji kin writes to Modi
Kolkata (PTI): Family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to repeat the hoisting of the National Flag from Red Fort on October 21 to mark the establishment of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind - the first free Government of United India - as it was done seven years ago, and make it an annual affair.
In an email communication sent to the Prime Minister's Office with a copy marked to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Convenor of The Open Platform for Netaji, Chandra Kumar Bose, appealed to Modi that while the nation celebrates the 82nd Anniversary of the establishment of the Azad Hind Government in 12 days, the Tricolour hoisting from Red Fort be made "mandatory".
"On the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the Azad Hind Government, on 21st of October 2018, it was appreciated, that flag hoisting was done by you, Hon'ble Prime Minister, at the Red Fort to give recognition and to honour the martyrs and soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauz, who sacrificed their lives for India's freedom," Bose, also Netaji's grand nephew and a former BJP politician, wrote.
"As 21st of October 2025, is approaching, it is our humble request on behalf of the Bose family and people of our great nation, that flag hoisting at the Red Fort on 21st October must be made mandatory every year," he added.
The Provisional Government of Free India or, simply, Azad Hind, was a short-lived Japanese-controlled provisional government which was established in exile in Japan-occupied Singapore during World War II on October 21, 1943 under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
It was part of the political movement originating in the 1940s outside India with the aim of allying with the Axis powers to liberate India from British rule.
Shortly after the formation of the provisional government, Free India declared war against the Allied forces on the Indo-Burma Front. Its military wing, the Indian National Army (INA), or the Azad Hind Fauj, went into action against the British Indian Army as part of the Imperial Japanese Army in the Imphal-Kohima sector.
Despite INA's initial success at the Battle of Imphal where it breached the British defence in Kohima and marched up to Moirang in Manipur, it suffered a subsequent catastrophic defeat in the hands of the Allied forces, prompting both the Japanese and the INA to retreat.
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PM Modi meets Dutch royals in Netherlands, discusses cooperation in technology, innovation
The Hague (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday - after a brief stopover in the UAE - on the second leg of his five-nation tour that also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.
"Met His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima at the Royal Palace. It was wonderful exchanging perspectives on boosting India-Netherlands friendship across key sectors like technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce and water resources," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.
Modi said that India and the Netherlands are "connected by shared interests and a shared belief in building a future-ready planet."
"They discussed the growing partnership between India and the Netherlands," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
"Both sides noted the close cooperation in the areas of sustainability, climate action, digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy," he added.
The two sides also expressed commitment towards further strengthening India–Netherlands relations.
Earlier in the day, Modi addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in The Hague where he called India a “land of opportunities” undergoing an “unprecedented transformation”.
The PM's visit to the European nation from May 15 to 17 is his second trip to the country after his 2017 visit and comes at what officials described as an "important juncture" in India-Netherlands ties.
India and the Netherlands have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years beyond traditional sectors such as trade, investment and the priority areas of water, agriculture and health.
The partnership has grown in strategic sectors, including technology, innovation, defence, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education and the maritime domain, the MEA said.
The Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade valued at USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment amounting to USD 55.6 billion, officials said.
People-to-people ties remain a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.
Later on Saturday, Modi is scheduled to meet his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.
