Trinamool seeks probe into 'destroyed' Netaji files

With the latest set of declassified files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose revealing that certain documents and a file were destroyed in 1972 when the Congress was in power at the centre, the Trinamool Congress on Wednesday sought a probe into the matter.

PMO documents concerning the Justice Mukherjee Commission revealed that certain files and documents including a proposal to bring Netaji's ashes from Tokyo and keep them at a memorial were either "destroyed" or "not traceable".

According to a PMO communication dated September 19, 2000 and declassified on Tuesday: "One file 12(226)/56-PM has been destroyed on 6.3.1972.

"Certain documents of file 23(156)/51-PM have been destroyed.

"And one file proposal to bring Netaji's ashes from Tokyo and to put up in a memorial in front of the Red Fort is not readily traceable."

The communication to the union home ministry also mentions that the "question of destruction of the documents" was earlier raised by MP Samar Guha in 1974.

Condemning the "misdeed" of the then Congress government, the Trinamool demanded a probe.

"We are deeply disappointed by this misdeed on the part of the then central government led by Congress in destroying files that would reveal the truth about our greatest national hero. We condemn the irresponsibility of such acts," said Trinamool Rajya Sabha chief whip Sukhendu Sekhar Roy.

Roy said the Narendra Modi government should constitute a high-powered committee in public interest and unearth the true nature and contents of the Netaji files, and also to ascertain the names of the people who failed in the safekeeping of the files.