Modi govt to rename three islands of Andaman & Nicobar

The Modi government at the Centre has decided to rename three islands in Andaman and Nicobar - Ross Island as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep, ANI reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit Port Blair in December 30 to mark the 75th anniversary of Netaji's historic visit to the islands, is likely to make the announcement of name change.

Earlier in November, Netaji's relative and West Bengal BJP vice-president Chandra Kumar Bose had written to PM Modi demanding that Andaman & Nicobar Islands be renamed to 'Shaheed and Swaraj Islands' as a tribute to Netaji.

In his letter, Chandra Bose said that Netaji "as the first Prime Minister of United Free India" had hoisted the national flag at Port Blair on December 30, 1943, thus establishing the Azad Hind government. He said that following this, Netaji had renamed Andaman & Nicobar Islands to Shaheed & Swaraj Islands.

In his letter dated November 11, Bose writes, "By hoisting the National flag, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, as the head of the Azad Hind Government also fulfilled his promise and commitment that INA (Indian National Army) would stand on Indian soil by the end of 1943."

"On December 29, 1943, Netaji accompanied by Sarvashri Anand Mohan Sahay, Captain Rawat-ADC and Col DS Raju, the personal physician of Netaji, landed at the Port Blair aerodrome in Andaman. The enthusiastic Indian residents accorded them a warm reception. Netaji appointed Indian National Army General AD Loganathan as the Governor of the Islands," he writes in his letter to Modi.