Govt has finally recognised our freedom struggle: INA veterans

NEW DELHI: Among the several firsts at the 70th Republic Day parade on Saturday was the participation of four veterans of the Indian National Army who fought against the British forces under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s leadership.

The four INA veterans—Parmanand (99), Laltiram (98), Hira Singh (97) and Bhaagmal (95)—all from Haryana, got a pride of place in the parade as they rode down the Rajpath in open jeeps, as a striking black and white portrait of Netaji hung from the side of their vehicles.

The INA was an army formed by Indian nationalist Rash Behari Bose in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. Later, Netaji took charge of the army to fight against the British forces. The government’s attempt to bring the INA veterans to the limelight is significant keeping in view that the country had on October 21 last year commemorated at Red Fort the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the Azad Hind government.

After the parade, a frail but enthusiastic Hira Singh, with the help of his grandson Sunderpal, told TOI that “I and my fellow soldiers fought against the British forces in Singapore, Thailand, and Burma. We fought with machine guns and bombs. Later, we were kept in the cellular jail in Andaman and Nicobar islands which was surrounded by water. We were kept in jail for over a year where we were tortured a lot.”

Laltiram, another INA veteran, is very happy that the government has finally recognised their freedom struggle. Veepak, the grandson of Laltiram, told TOI, “Dadaji is very happy that this government has recognised the sacrifices of INA veterans by giving them honour.” The 98-year-old had presented a Netaji cap to PM Modi during the Red Fort event on Bose last year.