`Jaswant visit could harm Netaji probe'

`Jaswant visit could harm Netaji probe'
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

CALCUTTA, DEC 3: Unconvinced by Union Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh's clarification in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday about his visit to Renkoji Temple in Japan, the Netaji Probe and Research Foundation (NPRF) has urged the Government of India to ensure that ``no ministers or government officials be allowed to visit the temple so long as the inquiry (into Netaji's death) is in progress''.

It apprehended that such visits could influence the judgement of the commission set up to probe the Netaji mystery.

The NPRF, headed by All-India Forward Bloc (AIFB) general secretary Debabrata Biswas, said that when the Government had set up an inquiry commission to probe the Netaji mystery, the External Affairs Minister's visit to the temple, which allegedly contains the ashes of Subhas Chandra Bose, had only created doubts in the people's minds about the Government's intention.

Saying that Singh's clarification that his visit to the temple had no link with the functioning of the commission had not been convincing enough,he said: ``Only a clarification from the PMO would be acceptable.''

Biswas said: ``Worse than his visit to the temple is the statement which he made in Tokyo while interacting with office-bearers of the Joint Forum of Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.''

Biswas quoted Singh as saying: ``I appreciate your sentiments...I will persuade my Government to work with utmost concern so that the ashes can find a resting place in his homeland.''

``When the Government does not believe in the present explanation of Netaji's death, it's against all norms for Singh to make such irresponsible statements,'' he said.