Imphal/ Kohima, Jan 17, 2023, IANS

Imphal/ Kohima, Jan 17 (IANS): The weeklong 'Iconic Events' being organised across the country began on Tuesday at the Indian National Army (INA) memorial in Manipur's Moirang to pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, whose 126th birth anniversary would be celebrated on January 23.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on January 6 hoisted the tricolour at the INA headquarters at Moirang on a 165 feet high pole.

The week-long events as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' would be held in five state capitals and cities - Kohima, Haripura (Surat), Cuttack, Kolkata and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Speaking on the occasion at Moirang, Manipur PWD, Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam said that many freedom fighters were earlier not been given due recognition.

However, befitting tributes have been accorded during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's regime to many freedom fighters, suitably recognising their sacrifices, he said.

Tuesday's events at the INA martyr's memorial complex included a band display by Loktak battalion of the Assam Rifles on the tunes of 'Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja' followed by screening of a documentary on the life of Netaji.

A docu-drama on the life of Netaji was also performed by the Khenjonglang Group as part of the event.

Drawing and painting competitions of students at the Imphal Peace Museum in Nambol as well as blood donation camp along with medical camp at Kangvai were also part of the events.

After Moirang, the 'Iconic Events' would be held in Kohima (Nagaland) on January 18, followed by events in Haripura (Surat) on January 19, Cuttack on January 20, Kolkata on January 21, before the week-long events would culminate on January 23 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.