A controversy broke out on Sunday in connection with statements related to the “disappearance” of Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji) as on August 18, 1945, when a plane, with Bose allegedly on board, crashed near Taihoku (now in Taiwan).
West Bengal’s political parties, unanimously, refuse to accept Bose’s death on this day, and condemned a social media statement by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) indicating that he died on this day.
Many BJP and Congress leaders at the national level also indicated that Bose died on this day fuelling the controversy.
First to react was Chief Minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee. “On this day, in 1945, Netaji went on a flight from Taihoku Airport in Taiwan, only to disappear forever. We still do not know what happened to him. People have a right to know about the great son of the soil,” tweeted Ms. Banerjee.
Bengal BJP leader and one of the grand nephews of Netaji, Chandra Kumar Bose, tweeted in line with what the TMC chief said.
“18 August-on this day in 1945 #Netaji disappeared from Taihoku. Official version of the Govt [Government]-Netaji perished in an aircrash. However many inconsistencies were found. It [is] imperative for the Govt. to disclose the truth to stop spreading untruth,” noted Mr. Bose, a BJP Lok Sabha candidate.
All India Forward Bloc [AIFB], founded by Boseissued a strongly worded statement seeking an apology from PIB.
