RTI makes Netaji rise from 'ashes'
RTI makes Netaji rise from 'ashes'
ibnlive.com
New Delhi: The mystery about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's death is acquiring
a mythical quality.
And now the Ministry of External Affairs has added to the many confusing
tales about the fiery leaders fate.
The MEA has informed the Delhi-based 'Mission Netaji' that the ashes and
remains of the leader were still at Renkoji temple in Tokyo.
At the root of this confusion is a note that dates back to 1954.
The note (details: UO No D/S13170 of 2/12/1954) was written by secretary to
the then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, M O Mathai and said that "a small
amount of Rs 200 odd were received by minister of External Affairs from our
Embassy in Tokyo alongwith the ashes and other remains of Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose".
It was after getting hold of this note that Mission Netaji's Anuj Dhar and
Chandrachur Ghosh approached the MEA and PMO in September 2006, seeking
explanation.
Both Dhar and Ghosh demanded the PMO officials state the facts vis-a-vis the
note under Right to Inforamtion Act.
In their application, Dhar and Ghosh wanted to know whether the ashes and
other remains of Netaji were ever received in India by Nehru, who was also the
then external affairs minister.
PTI reports that the duo also wanted to know if the ashes were received or
disposed off and why was the information withheld from the public at alrge.
A question was also raised about the probability of Netaji's ashes being to
remain in Tokyo.
In a letter dated March 2, Additional Secretary in the MEA, Ajai Choudhary
informed Mission Netaji that, "as per as the ministry was aware the alleged
ashes and remains are still at the Renkoji temple, Tokyo."
The Indian Liasion mission in Tokyo had conducted some investigation and
reported that the ex-president Indian Independence League, Japan, had confirmed
to the former director of the Information office of Netaji's Independent
government that he himself received the ashes of Netaji in September 1945 and
entrusted them to the custody of Renkoji temple," agencies quoted from MEA
letter.
Significantly, Choudhary said in his letter "that the chief priest of Renkoji
Temple wrote to Jawaharlal Nehru on November 23, 1953 that he has been keeping
the of ashes of Netaji since Sepember 18, 1945."
However, the MEA played safe as well. "Such records may be available from
Ministry of Home Affairs which is the nodal ministry in respect of the subject
under consideration," it said.
This didnt seem to convince the men, hot on Netajis trail. "We can't figure
out which version is true because the government response under the RTI have
only added confusion surrounding Mathai's note," Dhar was quoted as saying.
also must read : God forbid this should be true!
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