The West Bengal government has withdrawn the Banga Bibhushan, the state’s highest civilian honour, from BJP Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Ray, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, amid controversy over his remarks about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. 

The award was conferred on Ray on February 21, 2026, when the Mamata Banerjee government was in power. The state government said the honour recognises distinguished and exemplary contributions to the state and its people and carries a high degree of dignity and prestige.

Why Bengal withdrew the award

The decision came less than 24 hours after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed the police to take stringent action, including arrests, against people making derogatory remarks about Netaji on social media.

Adhikari had also said that the law would apply equally to MPs, MLAs and government officials.

The directive followed remarks by Ananta Maharaj in which he described Netaji as a “war criminal” and questioned his leadership as well as the role of the Azad Hind Fauj in India’s freedom struggle.

What the Bengal government said

In its order, the state government said that “certain facts and circumstances” had emerged that raised questions over Nagendra Ray’s continued retention of the honour.

The government said the competent authority had concluded that retaining the Banga Bibhushan was inconsistent with the dignity, prestige and purpose of the award.

It therefore withdrew and annulled the honour conferred upon Nagendra Ray on February 21, 2026, with immediate effect. The order did not specifically identify the particular offence behind the decision.

Who is Nagendra Ray?

Nagendra Ray, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, is a BJP Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal who hails from Cooch Behar in the northern part of the state and is a leader of the Rajbanshi community. 

The withdrawal of the state honour comes amid controversy over his remarks concerning Netaji, a prominent figure in India’s freedom struggle and a revered personality in Bengal.

A political dispute has erupted between the Congress and the BJP in Uttarakhand over a ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ceremony held at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani after a rally addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on August 8.

Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal alleged that the ‘Shri Ram Sena’ group that conducted the ceremony was associated with the BJP. The BJP has strongly denied having any connection with the group.

Godiyal claimed that the purification ritual was conducted because Kharge belongs to the Dalit community. He accused the BJP of promoting divisions in society on the basis of caste and described the ceremony as a “crime against humanity”.

The Congress leader also questioned the Nainital senior superintendent of police over the alleged lack of action against the right-wing group. He said the incident reflected what he described as a fundamental ideological difference between the Congress and the BJP.

BJP rejects Congress allegations

The BJP rejected the allegations and accused the Congress of targeting the saffron party for political gain.

BJP state spokesperson and Cabinet Minister Khajan Das said certain slogans were raised during Kharge’s rally at the Ramlila Ground that, according to him, hurt the sentiments of the Sanatan community.

Das said the Ramlila Ground has religious significance and claimed that people were angered by the chanting of slogans associated with another religion at the venue.

The BJP also rejected the Congress’s claim that the purification ceremony was linked to Kharge’s caste. Das, in turn, accused the Congress of disrespecting Dalit leaders, naming former Congress president Sitaram Kesri, Babu Jagjivan Ram and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.

The controversy has since led to a political exchange between the two parties, with the Congress questioning the motive behind the ceremony and the BJP maintaining that the ritual was not connected to Kharge’s caste.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to remain in Parliament and participate in the discussion, as Home Minister Amit Shah prepares to respond to issues raised by the Congress leader.

Rijiju’s remarks came amid a continuing standoff between the government and the Opposition over recent student protests and the police action against demonstrators. The issue has repeatedly disrupted proceedings in Parliament, with the Opposition seeking answers from the government.

Rahul Gandhi has been demanding a response from Amit Shah on the matter. The government has now agreed to a debate, with the Home Minister expected to respond to the questions raised by the Opposition.

Rijiju asks Rahul Gandhi to stay for Shah’s response

In a social media post, Rijiju said Rahul Gandhi had been seeking a response from Amit Shah for several days.

He argued that since the Home Minister was now ready to answer the questions in detail, Rahul Gandhi should remain present in Parliament and take part in the discussion rather than leave.

The remarks came as the government and Opposition remained at odds over the handling of the student protests, with the issue becoming a major point of contention during the Monsoon Session.