YK MYK GRANTS TO POPULARIZE USE OF DRONE IN FARMING IS THE BEGINNING OPINION Rs. 3 KOLKATA SATURDAY, 22 JAN, 2022 PG- 8, YEAR— 8, ISSUE— 242 (RNI NO: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) GOVT BLOCKS 35 PAK-BASED YOUTUBE CHANNELS FOR ANTI-INDIA CONTENTS NATION Morning India Mamata Banerjee is the first choice as the leader of opposition against BJP in the country, says survey MI NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee is the most popular anti-BJP figure in the country at the moment, no matter how much the Congress agrees. This demand of the Trinamool Congress has been established in a survey conducted by a national media outlet. According to the survey, Mamata Banerjee is the first choice of the people as the leader of the opposition alliance at the moment. At number two is Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Rahul Gandhi of the Congress is far behind. India Today has recently published their Mood of the Nation survey. Even though Narendra Modi has emerged as the most popular leader in the country, his popularity has come down considerably. While the PM's popularity soared to 78 per cent in August 2020, Modi is currently favoured by 63 per cent who participated in that poll. However, Modi's popularity plummeted last year amid farmer's movements and the pandemic. The most striking thing about India Today's survey is that as the Leader of the Opposition, the participants in the survey put Mamata Banerjee ahead of all other leaders in the country. Seventeen per cent of the participants think that Mamata Banerjee currently is the right person to challenge the Modi government. In fact, Mamata's popularity is on the rise across the country after her huge success in the Bengal Assembly elections. Most of the opposition parties are congratulating Mamata Banerjee in Statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to be installed at India Gate: PM Modi A worker paints the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose ahead of his birth anniversary in Kolkata MI NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI: A grand granite statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be installed at India Gate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday. "At a time when the entire nation is marking the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, I am glad to share that his grand statue, made of granite, will be installed at India Gate. This would be a symbol of India's indebtedness to him," the Prime Minister said in a tweet today. The Prime Minister said that till the time the grand statue of Netaji Bose is completed, a hologram statue of the freedom fighter would be inaugurated on January 23. "Till the grand statue of Netaji Bose is completed, a hologram statue of his would be present at the same place. I will unveil the hologram statue on 23rd January, Netaji's birth anniversary," tweeted PM Modi. In a major development, it is learnt from sources that from this year, R-Day celebrations will start on January 23 -- birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (125th year this time). It will end on January 30, the day Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. Official sources have informed that the dimensions of Netaji's statue would be 28 feet in height and 6 feet in breadth. Also, the flame at the India Gate will be extinguished after 50 years and will be merged with the flame at the adjoining National War Memorial (NWM) in the runup for Republic Day. Amar Jawan Jyoti has its own history. It is spread over 40 acres in the India Gate complex behind the canopy and is dedicated to soldiers killed during wars for India's safety. The Canopy earlier had a statue of Kind George 5th, which was removed in 1968. Canopy's original top, with gilded Tudor Crown bearing Royal Cyphers of King George V were removed on August 12, 1958. In 1968, the statue of King George V was removed, kept in store briefly and then moved to Delhi's Coronation Park. Republic Day is celebrated annually on January 26 every year. Meanwhile, Anita Bose- Pfaff, daughter of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose called Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement about the erection of an iconic statue dedicated to Netaji at India Gate a "nice gesture." Welcoming the decision as "better late than never", Bose-Pfaff said the announcement took her by surprise. "I am very happy about the decision. It is a very good location. I am certainly glad that his statue would be put up at such a prominent place. What surprises me is it came all of a sudden now. One might have prepared a bit earlier, but better late than never, I must say," a report quoted her as saying. Addressing the Republic Day tableau rejection controversy that erupted between the West Bengal government and the Centre, Anita said that she hoped that the statute announcement will put an end to the friction. Amit Shah slams Congress Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to install Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's statue at India Gate on his 125th Jayanti and slammed the Congress for forgetting the freedom fighter's immortal contribution to the country. Taking to Twitter, Shah said "Great news for the entire nation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji has today announced that a grand statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, will be installed at the iconic India Gate, New Delhi". "This is a befitting tribute to the legendary Netaji, who gave everything for India's freedom," Shah said in a series of tweets. Noting that "Netaji is an epitome of India's true strength and resolve", the Home Minister hit out at the Congress party, saying "Congress has left no stone unturned to forget the immortal contributions of India's brave son". "PM Narendra Modi's decision to install Netaji's statue at India Gate on his 125th Jayanti will inspire our generations to come," Shah further said. The Home Minister's remarks came after the Prime Minister announced that a 'grand statue' of Subhas Chandra Bose will be installed at India Gate. The PM's announcement comes two days before the freedom fighter's 125th birth anniversary. "I am glad to share that the grand statue, made of granite, will be installed at India Gate. This would be a symbol of India's indebtedness to him," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. However, till the time the statue is constructed, a hologram bust of 'Netaji' will be put up at the iconic monument in the national capital, PM Modi further said. "I will unveil the hologram statue on 23rd January, Netaji's birth anniversary," Modi posted. TMC MLA ASKED TO STAY AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Madan Mitra has been directed by the party to stay away from social media after several of his controversial posts went viral. The former West Bengal Transport Minister and a loyalist of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said that he will stay away from posting on social media for several months. "My social media is a personal thing. I have decided that I will not come to any Facebook Live, Instagram or any other social networking site till June 30. It is because the name of social media is in the hand of media and I was part of social media. Now the name of media should be anti-social media," the Kamarhati MLA said. A controversy erupted over Mitra's social media post recently. The MLA was warned by the TMC Discipline Committee. this regard. According to the survey, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is fighting on the second spot as the leader of the opposition after Mamata Banerjee. Rahul Gandhi has come down to third place. Rahul Gandhi as the leader of the opposition is wanted by 11 per cent participants. Mamata Banerjee is one of the most popular leaders in the country not only in the leadership of the opposition but also as the Chief Minister. According to India Today's Mood of the Nation survey, Mamata Banerjee ranks second among the country's Chief Ministers in terms of popularity in her home State. Naveen Patnaik of Orissa is the most popular Chief Minister of the country. His popularity in his own State is 71 per cent. Mamata Banerjee is in the second place in this list. Her popularity is 69.9 per cent. Third on the list is Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Non-BJP-ruled State Chief Minister is in the top six in the list of most popular Chief Ministers.