President Ram Nath Kovind was dragged into a controversy on Monday after he unveiled the portrait of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Rashtrapati Bhavan to commemorate his 125th birth anniversary celebrations.
President Ram Nath Kovind was dragged into a controversy on Monday after he unveiled the portrait of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Rashtrapati Bhavan to commemorate his 125th birth anniversary celebrations.
Controversy erupted when some people on social media, including prominent journalists, claimed that President Kovind had unveiled the portrait of actor Prasenjit Chatterjee, who essayed the role of Netaji in Srijit Mukherjee's 'Gumnaami'.
Dear respected Mr President sir, please replace this portrait. Can’t have a fake Netaji up on the hallowed walls of . 🙏 https://t.co/Dtg4illk3f
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose)
This is not Netaji that President unveiled. It’s a terrible error, as expected from an ignorant regime! It is actor Prasenjit Chatterjee who played his role in a film. How stupid! pic.twitter.com/tKL0gv06IS
— Jawhar Sircar (@jawharsircar)
The rumour flew like wildfire on social media, some even coming up with alternate theories.
Another group, meanwhile, claimed that the portrait unveiled at the Rashtrapati Bhavan created by artist Paresh Maity was indeed that of Netaji.
Netaji portrait in Rashtrapati Bhavan is based on this original photo (first picture). This is how Prosenjit looks in the movie (last picture). Needless controversy. pic.twitter.com/QeBu5xsnNr
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul)
Some said that the portrait was based on the photograph provided by Netaji's grand-niece Jayanti Bose Rakshit.
The original photo of Netaji on which artist Paresh Maity based the portrait unveiled at Rashtrapati Bhawan was sourced from Jayanti Bose Rakshit, Netaji’s grand neice. https://t.co/dQozvPSZml
— Nistula Hebbar (@nistula)
A reputed Padma Awardee who paid homage to Netaji, a remarkable portrait unveiled by Rashtrapati ji himself on was reviled. Can we rise above such personal antics that demean the legacy of our National Heroes?!
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani)
Some others had second thoughts much later. Verified Twitter users like journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and TMC MP Mahua Moitra deleted their posts condemning the Rashtrapati Bhavan's post.
Here are the two photos side by side. We leave it up to you to to decide whose photo is on the portrait.