New Delhi: On Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said it's a shame for the nation that even after so many years of the disappearance of Netaji, people don't know what happened to the leader nor do they have the date of his death. CM Mamata Banerjee took a dig at the BJP-ruled central government for not keeping their promise of investigating Netaji's disappearance.
"The country is celebrating Netaji's 127th birth anniversary on Tuesday. It's India's bad luck that even after so many years we do not have Netaji's death date. We do not know what happened to him. It is as if the fact is hidden behind the darkness of the new moon. It's a shame," Banerjee said after garlanding a statue of Bose, as quoted by news agency PTI.
Notably, it is believed by many that Netaji disappeared after a plane crash in Taiwan in August 1945. There are several theories about what happened to him after that. Bengal CM calls it a shame for the nation for not being able to ascertain the truth.
"We are ashamed that still, we do not know where Netaji had gone, do not know whether he disappeared or what happened to him or whether he was tortured, or whether he was hiding?" CM Mamata remarked.
As per PTI, Banerjee also referred to the declassification of 64 files related to Netaji by her government in 2015 and accused the BJP-led central government of forgetting its promises made before coming to power to investigate the freedom fighter’s disappearance.
However, the Bengal CM expressed disinterest in getting the ashes claimed to be that of Netaji and said that she was keen on seeing the great freedom fighter alive in good health.
"Reports have suggested that the ashes of Bose are preserved at Renkoji temple in Tokyo. Demands were made by several quarters that the ashes be handed over to India. Some people were saying that the ashes will be handed over but I said we want Netaji in flesh and blood. Netaji is our emotion, our sentiment. Do not know whether he is fine or not, but still would pray for his good health. We seek his blessings", PTI quoted CM Mamata as saying.
In an apparent reference, Mamata launched a scathing attack at the Centre for declaring a half-day public holiday in central government offices on the occasion of Ram temple's consecration ceremony on Monday.
As per PTI, CM Banerjee said, these days holidays are declared for “political advertisements”. "However, there is no holiday for those who fought for the country. For 20 years, I tried to make Netaji's birth anniversary a national holiday but failed. Please forgive me," she said.
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