Cong doing petty politics, ignored Bose's contribution: BJP

BJP today accused Congress of doing "petty politics" over the issue of making public files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and demanded that it apologise to the nation for "ignoring" the contribution of great freedom fighters.
The party also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his action of making public files relating to Netaji, fulfilling a long-term demand and a promise made earlier, that could throw more light on the great freedom fighter's life.
"BJP condemns the petty politics done by the Congress and hails Modi government's efforts to give back the respect deserved by great freedom fighters," BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

He also alleged that Congress has engaged in "flattery" of only one family and totally ignored the contribution of great freedom fighters due to its "votebank politics".
"Congress party should accept this reality and penance for its misdeeds. Congress should apologise to the country for the disrespect it showed to great freedom fighter," he said.
Sharma said Congress has tried to confine the credit to only its first family, "brutally ignoring the contribution of Bose as well as many great freedom fighters of the country".

"Not only this, Congress has repeatedly tried to spoil the image of other great nationalists and freedom fighters after independence in the country. There are indications to this effect after the Netaji files have been made public," he claimed.

The BJP leader alleged that a letter written by Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru to then British Prime Minister Clement Attlee has also come out "in which Nehru has termed the great freedom fighter Subhas Bose as a 'war criminal'".
"This is an example how Congress has been spoiling the image of leaders having a different viewpoint," he said.
Sharma said Prime Minister Modi has fulfilled the demand being made for a long time by Indians to make public files related to the life of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
"Now everyone can see these files and get information pertaining to Netaji's life. BJP expresses its gratitude for this historic decision of the government," he said, adding that with these files made public, a number of mystries relating to Netaji's life will be unravelled.

Attacking the Congress, he said, "While the entire country has expressed happiness over the files being made public, Congress is doing petty politics on this issue as well."
The BJP leader added that the "disappointing reaction" given by Congress leader Anand Sharma on this issue reveals the "narrow-mindedness" of the opposition party.
"It is known to all that Congress has undermined the contribution of a number of people who sacrificed their life for the freedom of the country and has given the credit to only one family," he said.
Congress, while pitching for declassifying all files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, today said the way Prime Minister Naredra Modi has set about the task, raises doubts about his intentions.

"Congress has already said that it would like to see all files to be declassified because attempts are being made to raise a controversy and misguide people of the country through a mischievous political campaign," party's senior spokesman Anand Sharma claimed.