CPI-M MP claims Modi instructed MHA to destroy crucial files, govt denies

New Delhi: A CPI-M member created uproar in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday when he alleged that the Home Ministry had destroyed some crucial files related to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on the instruction of the Prime Minister, a claim rubbished by the government. [caption id=“attachment_1611669” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Files related to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi were allegedly destroyed, the MP claimed.[/caption] Raising the matter during the Zero Hour, P Rajeeve said the Home Ministry destroyed over 1.5 lakh crucial files which included some historical documents relating to Gandhi’s assassination and the Cabinet discussions held immediately thereafter. The uproar also led to the adjournment of the house. Rubbishing the charge, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “I deny it emphatically that the Prime Minister had given such instructions.” Rajeeve alleged that instructions to destroy the files were given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately after taking oath. “I would like to know why this decision was taken in a hurry,” he asked, with several members from the Opposition benches associating themselves with his concern. “You cannot scrap history by destroying secret files,” Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said. Alleging that such an attempt was intended at destroying records about the alleged involvement of some Hindu elements in Gandhi’s assassination, Rajeeve demanded a reply from the Prime Minister. He was supported by Congress and TMC members. While the Chair ruled that the matter should be put to rest after the minister’s statement, the members refused to relent and demanded a reply from the Prime Minister. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) demanded that action should be taken against the editors of newspapers who have carried the report if the allegations are proved wrong. Amid uproar, the Chair adjourned the House for an hour till 2 PM. Later when the house reconvened, Saif-ud-din Soz again spoke about the matter saying that a serious allegation has been made. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, however, said that the matter was raised in the morning and government had already refuted it. PTI