IMPHAL: Well-known researcher on legendary freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose – Y. Rajeshwar Singh, on Tuesday, said it was because of Netaji’s Azad Hind Fauj’s efforts that the British had to leave India and the nation, which was ruled by the foreigners for decades, witnessed liberty.

Singh, while speaking at an event held under the aegis of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Tuesday, Netaji had led the Azad Hind Fauj and that it was the force’s effective efforts which compelled the British to leave this country. He also enlightened on various aspects of Azad Hind Fauj and spoke about its role in India’s independence.

Former general manager of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) I. Singh said Netaji had played a vital role in holding the country together. He claimed the news about Netaji’s death in a plane crash in 1945 to be “false” and that Netaji was spotted in the disguise of a saint in different places after 1945. The news of his death was false, Singh claimed.

Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha’s president for Assam and the Northeast Biswadeep Gupta said the tag of “war criminal” had been attached with Netaji’s name and that the Mahasabha has started a signature campaign with the target to collect signatures from people seeking withdrawal of the tag from Netaji’s name. The campaign in Manipur will begin in Moirang from Wednesday, Gupta said. He also mentioned that the Mahasabha’s office in Manipur will be inaugurated in its capital Imphal on Wednesday.