Shame that we don't know what happened to Netaji till date: Mamata attacks BJP

On Netajis' 127th birth anniversary, the West Bengal CM hit out at the BJP-ruled central government for not keeping their promise of investigating his disappearance.

Kolkata: Kolkata, DHNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday slammed the BJP-led central government for failing to keep its promise to investigate the disappearance of Subhas Chandra Bose.

Netaji died in a plane crash on August 18, 1945, or did he live undercover, somewhere, after his disappearance – his followers, and researchers maintain diverging opinions, with the factions refusing to acknowledge the other’s narrative. Several theories and opinions, over the years, have deepened the mystery.

Addressing a function to mark Bose’s 127th birth anniversary, the CM appeared disappointed about having been unsuccessful – despite trying for 20 years – at having Netaji’s birthday declared a national holiday. She said it’s possible to have a holiday for political campaigns, but not for the martyrs.

“The BJP, when it had not come to power, had said that it would debunk the mystery. After that everything happened, but Netaji was forgotten,” she said.

The CM added that Netaji had got the Planning Commission instituted. “When the Planning Commission was active, I remember that every year we held meetings with the principal and chief secretaries. We discussed the allotment of funds… Today, Planning Commission doesn’t exist. There’s no plan for the country,” she said.