Three islands in Andaman and Nicobar - Ross Island, Neil Island and Havelock Island- will be renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, respectively, by the Narendra Modi-led central government of India. 

The new names will be formally announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Port Blair on December 30. The occasion is to mark the 75th anniversary of Netaji's visit to the islands.

Indian home ministry said it has completed the formalities for changing the names of the three popular islands.

In a letter dated 11 November, Netaji's relative and West Bengal BJP vice-president Chandra Kumar Bose wrote to Modi, demanding that the names of the islands be changed as a tribute.

Subhas Chandra Bose Bose or Netaji had hoisted the flag after the Japenese captured the area during the Second World War. He had reportedly suggested back then that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands be renamed as Shahid and Swaraj Dweep. 

In March 2017, a BJP leader had made a demand in the Rajya Sabha to change the name of popular tourist destination Havelock Island. LA Ganesan said naming a place after a person who had fought Indian patriots in 1857 was a matter of shame.

Havelock Island is named after British general, Sir Henry Havelock, who served in India during the British administration. It is the largest island in the union territory.

Inputs from NDTV, Firstpost

BDST: 1441 HRS, DEC 25, 2018
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