Congress MP Manickam Tagore moves adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to remove 1971 war photo from Army headquarters

New Delhi: Congress MP Manickam Tagore brought up the removal of the 1971 war picture from Army Headquarters in New Delhi and its ramifications in the Lok Sabha on Monday by submitting an adjournment motion notice.

“The removal of the photograph commemorating the historic surrender of Pakistani forces in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on December 16, 1971, is not only troubling but is a direct affront to the historical memory of this monumental event,” Manickam Tagore said in his warning to Speaker Om Birla.

“The photograph symbolized a victory that marked the liberation of Bangladesh and was a moment of immense pride for India, with over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendering to the Indian Army in a swift 13-day war,” he said.

“Similar attempts to change or obliterate India’s original history have been documented across several ministries, monuments, and defense organizations in recent years, which is part of a troubling trend. He went on to say, “These incidents seem to be part of a larger effort by the PM Modi administration to rewrite or delete historical events that do not fit particular narratives.

The Congress MP also emphasized that the removal of this famous image is an attempt to lessen the significance of the 1971 victory, which was spearheaded by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and to erase its legacy from our collective memory. The victory is still regarded as one of India’s greatest military victories.

The central government should “immediately” return the image to its rightful location, he further requested.

“In order to prevent future instances of history revisionism, I urge the PM Modi administration to promptly return the 1971 surrender picture to its rightful location at the Army Headquarters. “With the highest dignity and respect, we must preserve our history, our triumphs, and the sacrifices of our military forces,” Tagore said.

He also insisted that the government set up an impartial commission to look into this.

Furthermore, I urge the government to form an impartial committee with representatives from all parties to look into the causes for the removal of these historical icons and suggest ways to safeguard and conserve our cultural legacy. In order to guarantee that our history is not altered in any way, the Congress MP said that this committee should also look at comparable incidents that have occurred in the past, present, and future in all areas and recommend preventive measures.

After a 13-day India-Pakistan War, Pakistan signed the instrument of capitulation in Dhaka on December 16, 1971. As a consequence, more than 93,000 men surrendered, and the Pakistan Army fully submitted to Indian forces. India declared itself a key regional player after its resounding victory.

West Pakistan was devastated by the founding of Bangladesh, and the effects are being felt today. Dhaka’s physical collapse was accompanied by Pakistan’s psychological loss. It disproved the two-nation idea, which held that Muslims in the subcontinent were a single nation.

December 16 is celebrated nationally as “Vijay Diwas” to honor India’s victory over Pakistan, which is a historic milestone for the country. It has been reported that during the 1971 conflict, 9,851 Indian troops were wounded, and 3,900 are thought to have perished.