PM Modi to rename three islands of Andaman and Nicobar

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be renaming three islands of Andaman and Nicobar. During his visit to Port Blair on Sunday, PM Modi will be renaming Ross Island, Neil Island and Havelock Island- will be renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island, Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, respectively.

The renaming will take place to mark the 75th anniversary of the day when Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the national flag at Port Blair. On December 30, 1943, Bose had hoisted a flag at Port Blair, as he believed that Andaman was the first territory that had been freed from the British occupation after the Japanese captured the area during the Second World War

Bose had reportedly suggested that Andaman and Nicobar islands be renamed  Shahid and Swaraj dweep. According to reports, PM Modi will be accompanied by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and will be hoisting a



150-metre flag to mark the occasion. He will also release a commemorative stamp and a coin on the occasion. 

Chandra Kumar Bose, vice president of West Bengal BJP unit had written to PM Modi urging him to rename the islands. In a letter dated November 11, Bose, a relative of Subhas Chandra Bose, had called the latter the first Prime Minister of United Free India, who had hoisted the flag at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar under the Azad Hind government.

“India is celebrating the 75th year of flag hoisting by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on December 30, 2018. It is very heartening to note that you (PM) would be hoisting the Tricolour at Gymkhana Grounds, Port Blair, exactly from the same location where the first Prime Minister of United India had unfurled the flag,” The Print quoted Bose's letter as saying.