NEW DELHI, Aug 7: With just one week to go before Parliament convenes for the midnight session to mark the 50th anniversary of Independence, the Government is still debating whether to include an excerpt from a speech made by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in the function.

The demand was raised in the Lok Sabha on Monday by Congress MP Krishna Bose, who pointed out that Netaji was a member of the triumvirate (the other two being Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi) which led the country to freedom. Bose, who is a member of Netaji's family, pointed out that since excerpts from speeches by Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi will be played at the function, it will be appropriate to include Netaji's too.

Bose's demand was supported by all parties. A meeting of the National Committee for the golden jubilee celebrations (of which the Prime Minister is chairman) will now be held to take a decision. The detailed programme of the 45-minute function has already been printed for distribution to the 1,200-odd dignitaries who are to attend the session, but fresh copies can be printed quickly, it is argued.

Seven members of Netaji's Indian National Army, including Captain Lakshmi Sehgal have been invited to attend the function.

It's not just the programme, however, that is facing hitches; the guest list too is pending finalisation. Invitations to a host of VVIPs have been despatched but only a few confirmations have been received, say sources. Not surprising, since the formal invitations were sent only very recently.

Among the invitees are Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela (the only two surviving recipients of the Bharat Ratna); Gandhi Peace Prize awardees Dr Julius Nyrere (Tanzania) and Dr A T Aryaratna (Sri Lanka); and recipients of the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding which include Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed, Aung San Suu Kyi, Robert Mugabe and Yasser Arafat. The Speaker of the British House of Commons, Dame Betty Boothroyd, is also expected to attend. ``The number of guests is limited because of severe space constraints in Central Hall,'' explained an official. Central Hall (including its lobbies and six galleries) can accommodate a maximum of 1,215 people. With 775 sitting MPs besides dignitaries such as the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Election Commissioner, Delhi's Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor, diplomats, secretaries to the Government and the Press, there will be hardly any room left.

Former presidents, vice presidents, prime ministers, Lok Sabha speakers and deputy speakers, and Rajya Sabha deputy chairpersons have been invited.The 18 surviving members of the Constituent Assembly have also been invited but most are unlikely to attend in view of their advanced ages. Last December, only nine were able to come to Delhi for the function to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the constitution of the Assembly.

The programme so far is as follows: The function will begin at 11.55 pm with the arrival of the President. After the national anthem is played and a minute's silence observed in honour of the martyrs of the freedom struggle, Bhimsen Joshi will sing Vande Mataram. A collage made from speeches of Mahatma Gandhi and then part of Nehru's ``Tryst with Destiny'' speech will be played, to be followed by Lata Mangeshkar singing Saare jahaan se achcha. Finally, the President will make a speech and the function will close at 12.40 am with the national anthem.

Finally, for all those who cannot witness the occasion in person, Doordarshan will telecast the function live.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.