On Wednesday, the government informed the Lok Sabha that the Russian government was unable to find any documents in Russian archives pertaining to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
V. Muraleedharan, MoS MEA in Lok Sabha: Govt has approached Russia a no.of times since 2014 seeking info on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. In its response, Russian Govt conveyed that they were unable to find any documents in Russian archives pertaining to Netaji… (1/2) (file pic) pic.twitter.com/O71xgZLEZF
— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2019
In a written reply to a question asked by Badruddin Ajmal, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that India had requested Russia several times since 2014 seeking information on Netaji. The Russian government has said that it was unable to find any documents despite carrying out additional investigations.
India sought information on Netaji such as to whether he was in Russia anytime before or after August 1945 and whether he escaped to Russia in August 1945 or thereafter as reported by some researchers.
Netaji is believed to have died in an air crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945. He had founded the Indian National Army also known as the Azad Hind Fauj. As his last days remain a mystery, there are several theories about his whereabouts and actually what happened to him. Some people have claimed that Netaji Bose was in Russia till at least 1968. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had even claimed said that Stalin was instrumental in “murdering” Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, who didn’t die in 1945 in a plane crash. He had also said that Bose was kept in a Russian prison before his murder, and PM Jawaharlal Nehru was aware of this.
Due to such claims, India had asked Russia to find if they have any information regarding Bose.
The Judicial Commission constituted in 2016 to probe the identity of ‘Gumnami Baba’, widely believed to be Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in disguise, has reportedly concluded that it could not arrive at a definitive conclusion.
PM Modi has undertaken various measures to immortalise the legacy of Netaji and the INA. In January this year, PM Modi had inaugurated a museum of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the Red fort.
PM Modi renamed three Island of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Bose had hoisted the national flag at Port Blair. The Ross Island was renamed to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Neil Island to Shahid Dweep and Havelock Island to Swaraj Dweep. A Rs 75 commemorative coin was also released to mark the 75th anniversary.
