CHENNAI: The Trinamool Congress joined MDMK leader Vaiko’s protest demanding release of documents on iconic freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in the city on Tuesday.
Vaiko said both the parties would lay siege to Parliament if the Centre did not come forward to fullfil their demand. Recalling that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while in the opposition, had called for release of the Netaji papers to throw light on the final days of the legendary leader, the MDMK leader said the Centre was now dodging on the specious plea that declassifying them would affect ties with certain foreign countries.
The true face of BJP had been exposed due to their refusal to release the documents on Netaji, he alleged adding that the saffron party was unwilling to unravel the truth, apprehensive of the leader’s fame spreading far and wide.
Vaiko recalled that over 40,000 people from the south Tamil Nadu had joined the Indian National Army formed by Netaji. Netaji did not die in a plane crash, he said, adding that the truth will be known if the classified documents are released.
He said people from Tamil Nadu and Bengal would lay siege to the Parliament, if the Centre refused to pay heed to the demand. He demanded that January 23, birth anniversary of Netaji be declared a national holiday.
Supporting Vaiko’s demand, Trinamool Congress general secretary and West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said it was regrettable that the Centre was refusing to declassifying the documents which would reveal the truth about the final days of Netaji.
There is undying love and affection for Netaji from every Bengali, he said and thanked Vaiko for coming forward to organise a protest for the cause.
Coming down heavily on the Modi government, he said the BJP had come to power on promise of economic development. But it was bent upon dividing people on religious lines by raising communal issues, he said, adding the TMC would not allow the agenda of the communal forces to succeed.