Netaji files revelation: Did Jawaharlal Nehru termed Subhas Chandra Bose ‘war criminal’?

New Delhi: It seems that India's first Prime Minister and senior Congress leader Jawaharlal Nehru considered Subhas Chandra Bose as a ‘war criminal’. This has been revealed through a letter, written by the former PM, declassified on Saturday on the occasion of 119th birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter.

According to the declassified government documents, the letter which has sparked a controversy was allegedly written by Jawaharlal Nehru to Clement Atlee on December 27, 1945.

In this letter Pandit Nehru wrote, “Dear Mr Attlee, I understand from reliable sources that Subhas Chandra Bose, your war criminal, has been allowed to enter Russian territory by Stalin. This is a clear treachery and betrayal of faith by the Russians as Russia has been an ally of the British-Americans, which she should not have done. Please take note of it and do what you consider proper and fit.”

The letter is signed, “Yours Sincerely, Jawaharlal Nehru,” as per the declassified documents.

Nehru Exposed: People "Indoctrinated" & "Poisoned" by Congi-Commy-Historians must read it. #NetajiSubhasChandraBose pic.twitter.com/byWt6lbpQb

— Dr. Manish Kumar (@DrManishKumar1) January 23, 2016

However, branding the letter allegedly written by Nehru as complete `bogus`, the Congress Party today demanded to find out the authenticity of the document first.

"We welcome the declassification of Netaji's files. If there is anything in the files, it will come out," Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said, as per ANI.

Party leader Anand Sharma, addressing a press conference had earlier said that declassification of Netaji's files was a 'deliberate' attempt by the ruling dispensation to divert attention from other important issues.

"This mischief is a targeted one, to mislead people and try to belittle the great achievements of stalwarts of the freedom struggle. The Congress will expose and take action against this mischievous fake letter," he said.

Bose is one of the leading freedom fighters of India who fought against the British rule. He had set up the Indian National Army (INA) during World War II to take on the British Indian Army.

Netaji, reportedly died in a plane crash in Formosa, now Taiwan, in 1945. His death still remains a mystery. Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the digital version of at least 100 declassified files relating to freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the National Archives of India earlier in the day today.

The National Archives of India is placing these files in the public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitisation.