Netaji's grand nephew anguished over reports of spying on the freedom fighter

A grand nephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose today expressed anguish over reports that the late freedom fighter's kin were spied upon and demanded that the Centre make public the name of those who had ordered it.

Raising the issue in Zero Hour, TMC MP Sugata Bose sought the release of all files related to Netaji and sharing with public "the reason of this gross invasion of privacy" of his family members.

At the same time, he made it clear that this was not a family matter and the issue should not be allowed to degenerate into a political fight.

"The government must immediately clarify the reason of this (surveillance) and who ordered it," said Bose, who is a noted historian and has written a biography of Netaji.

Underscoring the greatness of Netaji, Bose said he was among the three stalwarts of freedopm struggle whose voices were played in the Central Hall of Parliament during its Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Ruling BJP has used the report to attack former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and Congress, saying the spying was done at his behest.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh was present in the House when Bose was speaking.

He also used the opportunity to call for protecting the rights of minorities to "honour Netaji's memory".