Report on Netaji's disappearance rejected

New Delhi, May 17: The Union Government today rejected the finding of the Justice Mukherjee Commission that Indian National Army (INA) founder and freedom fighter 'Netaji' Subhash Chandra Bose did not die in the plane crash.

The govenment also disagreed with the commission's finding that the ashes in the Renkoji temple in Japan were not of Netaji.

The report of the commission was placed before both houses of Parliament by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, along with a Memorandum of Action Taken by the government on the report regarding the alleged disappearance of Netaji.

Mr M K Mukherjee, retired judge of the Supreme Court, was appointed as a one-man Commission of Inquiry on May 14, 1999, under the Commission of Inquiry Act of 1952 to probe the facts and circumstances related to the disappearance of Netaji in 1945. The Commission was specifically asked to go into the issue of whether Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is dead or alive; if he is dead, whether he died in the plane crash, as alleged; whether the ashes in the Japanese temple are ashes of Netaji; whether he has died in any other manner at any other place, and if so, when and how; if he is alive, in respect of his whereabouts.

The government also tabled a statement listing out reasons for dealy in placing the report before the Parliament.

Mr Patil said in the statement that the commission submitted its report on November 8. Though it had to be placed before the house within six months of submission, i.e., before May 7, it could not do so due to the time taken in translation, printing, consideration of the report by the government, its aproval by the Union Cabinet and the adjournment of Parliament on March 22.

UNI