PM Modi Declassifies 100 Secret Files On Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

23 January, New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday declassified 100 files relating to freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary.

The files, which could throw some light on the controversy over his death, were put on digital display at the National Archives of India in New Delhi.

Netaji’s family members and Union Ministers Mahesh Sharma and Babul Supriyo were present on the occasion. The Prime Minister also spoke to the members of the Bose family.

Chandra Kumar Bose, spokesperson of the Bose family and grand-nephew of Netaji, welcomed the step and said it is a day of transparency in India.

Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said National Archives of India,NAI, will release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month.

The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Minister’s Office and handed over to the NAI in December last year.

The digital copies of these files coming out in public domain meets a long-standing public demand which would facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Bose.

Welcoming the declassification of the files, Netajis niece Chitra Bose demanded that history of Indias freedom struggle should be rewritten.

While the ruling party and the RSS hailed the Governments decision, the Opposition Congress questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modis intentions behind the move.

On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata said people deserved to know the truth. ”We want to see the files which would bring to light the details of Netaji after he left this country, Ms Banerjee said.