Netaji files: Morarji Desai had raised questions on death

New Delhi, April 29  Former Indian prime minister Morarji Desai had raised questions about the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1977, the newly released declassified files pertaining to Netaji revealed on Friday.

The third cache of 25 files was released by union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma at the National Archives here. 

The latest batch comprises five files from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), five from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and 15 from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), pertaining to the period between 1956 and 2009. 

Speaking to media after the release of the files, the minister said in a letter in 1977 Moraji Desai ordered further inquiry into the death of Netaji while previous governments concluded that he died in a plane crash on August 18, 1945.

The minister also added the declassified files raise various questions regarding Netaji's ashes, kept in a temple in Tokyo, and the possibility of DNA verification of it. 

“Morarji Desai questioned the veracity of reports of Netaji's death while the previous governments have concluded that he died in a plane crash in 1945. However, there were various questions regarding where he died, when and what time," Sharma said. 

"Though previous governments have ruled out a DNA test on his ashes, it also needs to be discussed whether a DNA test of his ashes can be carried out or not,” he added. 

Two previous commissions of inquiry said that Netaji had died in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945. Contrary to the two commission reports, a third panel headed by Justice M.K. Mukherjee concluded that Bose was alive.

Speaking on the occasion, Sharma announced that the Centre will soon set up a Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose memorial and museum in the capital. 

“The demand for Netaji memorial was in the public domain since 1977 and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to fulfil people's wish. The formalities of a memorial and museum are done and the process is in the advanced stage," the minister said. 

"The memorial will have all documents related to Bose and will be available for research work," he said. 

Taking a dig at the Congress, Sharma said the previous Congress regimes tried to keep the files away from public. “I think some questions and answers are hidden regarding Netaji and the people of this country have the right to know the truth." 

Last month, the government said in the Lok Sabha that two files, including one from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), related to Netaji were missing. It also said Japan had agreed to declassify two files on Netaji by the year-end. 

Asked about the missing files, Sharma said investigations were on regarding the missing files. “We are investigating on the missing files". 

He also said the move by Japan and Russia to help India with more files regarding Netaji is a welcome one.