#NehruSnooped: An open letter to Modi
Respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
The story of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's missing treasure is covered in considerable detail in the May 25 issue of India Today.
The story prominently refers (as highlighted) to the repeated efforts of Indian diplomat KK Chettur to bring various facts related to this to light. He even offered to have an inquiry instituted as to where a very large portion of the treasure had disappeared. The series of letters he wrote to the ministry of external affairs, and the replies he received, indicate the complicity of Jawaharlal Nehru in ignoring this likely theft for perhaps much larger and more questionable reasons.
I am proud to share the fact that KK Chettur was my father. He is seen in this story as a highly upright man who could be called one of independent India's first whistleblowers against corruption and possible conspiracy. He passed away suddenly, five years later, in 1956, while serving as India's ambassador to Belgium. It is amazing that exactly 64 years later to the date, this story and his connection with it should come to light.
Apart from being his daughter, who feels a strong sense of duty towards her father, I am a patriotic and proud citizen of India who wants its history to be based on truth for posterity.
I believe it is my sacred responsibility to add my voice to those of the Bose family, and thousands of others, who want to know the facts in the matter of this treasure, as well as the fate of Netaji.
I would like to earnestly request that all documents concerning Indian National Army (INA) treasure, especially those related to my father's role in exposing the scam, be placed in the national archives for the benefit of historians and researchers.
You are the right person to bring a change in the attitude towards truth and history in our country, as you have already spoken of declassification of these records. The Right to Information Act has no meaning, unless such major historical episodes are revealed to the people of India by releasing all the papers that have been kept secret till now.
We can never be a strong country to face the future confidently unless we learn to face the truth of what happened in the past.
I hope you will consider my humble request positively.
With respect and regards,
Yours sincerely,
Jaya Jaitly