In New Delhi, on 119th birth anniversary of Netaji today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made public a hundred secret files. (Press Trust of India photo)
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's kin and historian Sugata Bose today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to know about Netaji's mysterious disappearance.
"I do not know whether Modi has done anything on the Netaji issue. I don't feel he had spoken to Abe (regarding Netjaji's disappearance). He also did not pay his respect by visiting the Renkoji temple... But, other Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited the temple to show their respect," he said of PM Modi's Japan tour last year.
He referred to the letter of his mother Krishna Bose, widow of Netaji's nephew Sisir Bose, to PM Modi requesting him to "talk to the Japanese PM" in this connection.
"The Japanese have shared with us the information they had regarding Netaji. But, I believe Modi should have spoken to Abe, whether it be in Tokyo or in Delhi, or Varanasi. I don't think he has spoken to him (Abe) regarding this," he claimed.
"It was first from Japan that we came to know what happened in August 1945," he said.
As Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Modi wrote to the Renkoji Temple authorities thanking the authorities for preserving and looking after the ashes of Netaji, Mr Bose claimed.
Mr Bose, a Trinamool Congress lawmaker, said "The PM went to Russia but has not said whether he had any discussion with the Russian President regarding Netaji. He must come out in the public about his discussions with Putin."
He also claimed that former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao had contacted the Russians in this connection and demanded that the "outcome of Rao's communication" should also be made public.
"There is much to learn from Netaji's life at this crucial moment when a combination of religious majoritarianism and unbridled capitalism threatens to overwhelm Indian democracy," Mr Bose said.
In New Delhi, on 119th birth anniversary of Netaji today, the prime minister made public a hundred secret files, which could throw some light on the controversy over Netaji's disappearance.