Ministry of Home Affairs takes U turn on Netaji

With Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee lambasting Centre for conforming Netaji's death in 1945 air crash in an RTI reply, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) changed tracks on Friday saying the reply was based on the findings during earlier government and the current government is still open and has not taken a final view.

An MHA spokesperson said, "Replies were based on 2006 findings. Government is open to examine new facts when they come to light."

MHA will send further clarification to the RTI that there has been no development since 2006 after Mukherjee Commission findings, said a spokesperson. He added that the present government does not have a final view on it and is open for further update as and when it comes.

MHA's response came soon after Banerjee on Friday said she was shocked by the Centre's reply to the RTI filed on the issue.

The response received strong criticism from Netaji's family members who described the Centre's reply as 'irresponsible'.

Asking PM Modi to apologise, All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), the party founded by Netaji, said the Union Home Ministry has 'misled' the country.

AIFB also demanded MHA to repeal its RTI reply.