Release documents on Netaji: Mamata to Centre
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said truth should come out regarding the mysterious disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
“We celebrate the birth anniversary of Netaji every year but we do not know about his disappearance. This is a tragedy,” she said at a programme here on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji.
“We had declassified all Netaji files which were with the state government. Some files were there with the central government. The truth may come out if there was an investigation but unfortunately it did not happen,” she said. “Netaji’s birthday is as important for us as Independence Day or Republic Day. Netaji was a leader of the country. A true leader does not discriminate, works for all,” she said.
On the occasion, Banerjee made subtle criticism of the abolition of the Planning Commission saying, “Netaji had a very clear vision for the country. He thought of the Planning Commission even before the Independence”.
The chief minister said her government has allotted Rs 10 lakh for the renovation of the house where Netaji had stayed in the hills.
On the development of the hills, she said, “Bengal is not complete without the hills. We have already allotted almost Rs 300 crore to the various development boards.” We have formed three new development boards for the hills and allotted Rs 10 crore for them.
“We will fulfil the dream of Netaji. We will keep working for the common people”, she said.
Banerjee who was addressing a rally in Darjeeling along with Minister of State for Tourism Indranil Sen and Tribal Development minister James Kujur not only criticised the government but also announced few projects listed for development of the hills.
Mamata again hit out at the note ban policy of the Modi government, stating that the people of Darjeeling had suffered immensely because of the move.
“Poor people have been badly hit by the move and it is very unfortunate that such a decision was taken without prior planning.”
In Kolkata, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yehchury took part in a meeting where he lauded Netaji’s role in maintaining communal harmony. “We should maintain communal harmony for the growth of society,” Yechury said.
Netaji’s house on Elgin Road from where he left the country in January 1941, witnessed a large group of people paying homage to the leader.
Wanderer, the German vehicle used by him has been refurbished and put on display. Food was distributed to the patients of different staterun hospitals.