Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on Thursday brought together tourism minister Gautam Deb of the Trinamul Congress and Siliguri mayor Asok Bhattacharya of the CPM — who are considered to be arch rivals in the city. The minister and the mayor were present as statues of Netaji and Major Durga Malla of the Indian National Army, a Gorkha martyr, were unveiled at Gurungnagar. At the event, Bhattacharya addressed the tourism minister in Nepali as “Mero Bhai Samma” (Like my brother). We appreciate their decision to install the statues of Netaji and Durga Malla whose contributions are well known. As we had decided to install the statues of Netaji and Major Durga Malla, we thought of inviting prominent persons of the city, including the mayor and the tourism minister.

Source: The Telegraph January 23, 2020 21:22 UTC