The central government will begin to declassify files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose from January 23 next year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced today. This meets a seven-decade-old demand for disclosing details which could help solve the mystery behind Netaji’s disappearance after August 18, 1945. Modi made the promise to Netaji’s 35 family members whom he hosted at his official residence in Delhi and declared that “there is no need to strangle history”.
He said he will also urge foreign governments to declassify files on Netaji available with them by writing to them and personally taking it up with foreign leaders during meetings, beginning with Russia in December.
“Process of declassification of files relating to Netaji will begin on 23rd January 2016, Subhas Babu’s birth anniversary,” Modi tweeted after an hour-long interaction with the family members who sought this declassification.
“Will also request foreign governments to declassify files on Netaji available with them. Shall begin this with Russia in December,” he said in another tweet.
Declaring that “there is no need to strangle history”, Modi said, “Nations that forget their history lack the power to create it.”
The demands for declassification of the secret files have been growing lately, especially after the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal recently declassified 64 files which were in its possession.
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