07/07/2026
All India Forward Bloc Condemns Samik Bhattacharya's Derogatory Remarks Against Forward Bloc; Demands Unconditional Public Apology
The All India Forward Bloc, the party founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, strongly condemns the irresponsible, offensive and historically distorted statement made by Shri Samik Bhattacharya, President of the BJP West Bengal Committee, in which he described the Forward Bloc activists who opposed Shyama Prasad Mookherjee's communal politics as "goondas." Such a statement is not merely an attack on the Forward Bloc as a political organisation; it is a direct insult to the glorious legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and to countless patriotic men and women who dedicated their lives to the cause of India's freedom, secularism and national unity. We demand that Shri Bhattacharya immediately withdraw his statement and tender an unconditional public apology.
The ideals of the Forward Bloc have always been rooted in the principles of inclusive nationalism, social justice and communal harmony. It is therefore both ironic and outrageous that the followers of Netaji are being branded as "goondas" merely because they opposed communal propaganda that threatened the unity of the people.
History is not a matter of political convenience. It is an established historical fact that during the Calcutta Municipal Corporation elections of 1940, Shyama Prasad Mookherjee attempted to mobilise support by appealing to communal sentiments and by seeking to divide the people of Calcutta along religious lines. The Forward Bloc resisted this dangerous politics because it firmly believed that India's strength lay in the unity of all its communities. The people of Bengal rejected the communal agenda, and the Hindu Mahasabha suffered defeat. The historical record further establishes that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose repeatedly warned Shyama Prasad Mookherjee against making speeches that could inflame communal passions and disturb public harmony.
While Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was organising the Indian National Army and launching an armed struggle against British imperialism from outside India, and while the Quit India Movement under the leadership of the Indian National Congress challenged British rule from within the country, the Hindu Mahasabha, led by Shyama Prasad Mookherjee, chose a different course. Historical records clearly show that the Hindu Mahasabha opposed the Quit India Movement and cooperated with the colonial administration instead of joining the united national struggle for freedom. These facts are documented and cannot be erased through political rhetoric or selective historical memory.
Public representatives carry a responsibility to speak with historical accuracy and constitutional responsibility. Distorting history for partisan political purposes not only demeans the sacrifices of freedom fighters but also misleads younger generations about the ideals upon which modern India was built.
The All India Forward Bloc therefore calls upon Shri Samik Bhattacharya to study the authentic historical records before making public statements. History deserves honesty, and public discourse demands responsibility. No amount of political expediency can alter the truth recorded in the annals of India's freedom struggle.
