Bose criticised his party's stand on the contentious Citizenship Act and said if the party does not mends the citizenship law, he may have to rethink his decision to remain in BJP. The picture of the Netaji statue is from Nadia district and is now being widely circulated in the state.
Bengal BJP vice president Chandra Bose said, "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was certainly a political person but he was much above party politics. I don't think any political party today deserves Netaji Subhas Bose. They can't own Netaji but putting a party flag on his statue. This is highly improper and I condemn it. I think Dilip Ghosh, the state BJP president, should immediately look into the matter."
Chandra Bose had also raised concerns over an "atmosphere of fear" being erupted with the Citizenship Act (CAA). He had urged the Centre to grant citizenship even to Muslims under the amended Citizenship Act.
Bose said, "I support the CAA with certain minor modifications. Mahatma Gandhi had said that we must give refuge to people who have been persecuted in our neighbouring countries. But Gandhiji never mentioned any religion. He mentioned all persecuted people. So if we actually have to follow Gandhiji by the letters then we need to follow all that he actually said."
"The entire opposition campaign would be dismissed in a few seconds if the government of India rectifies and modifies the CAA by stating persecuted persons will be considered for citizenship in India," added Bose.
"Home Minister has always stated that CAA does not involve religion. So if it is not based on any religion I think we need to be transparent and very specific about it. There is a lot of confusion regarding this. When I joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in January 2016, my discussions with Narendra Modi ji and home minister Amit Shah Ji was that I would do politics on the basis of Netaji Subhas Bose's ideology which is inclusive and secular and I will not digress from Netaji's directions. It still holds. If it doesn't, I will have to rethink my future in The BJP," said Chandra Bose.
He had earlier said the government should issue a written clarification on the issue. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act aims to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis who entered India on or before December 31, 2014 from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, having fled religious persecution in their countries.
"Now what will happen to the Muslims who had come to this country before that date? There is confusion. The Centre must take steps to remove that confusion," Bose said.