After the much talked about meeting, between PM Narendra Modi, and the family members of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, the later hailed the Prime Minister’s announcement about declassifying secret files related to Netaji, and hoped that the “historic” decision would finally lift the veil over his mysterious disappearance.
Chandra Kumar Bose, Netaji’s great grand nephew, said, “Today actually is the independence day for India as documents on Netaji will be declassified.”
35 members of Bose’s family met Modi at his residence, 7 PCR, Race Course Road.
PM Modi has announced that the declassification of files related to the INA founder would start from January 23, 2015.
Kumar Bose also said that, the earlier governments tended to “hide” these files, whereas Modi had decided to make them public. Netaji’s niece Chitra Ghosh hoped that declassification would give answers to so many theories that have been going around about Bose.
She also critisised the previous governments for not taking such a decision. She said, she was hoping that the Prime Minister would agree to declassify the files but was not expecting him to give a specific date for the same. “It came as really surprising,” she added.
Abheejet Ray, a nephew of Bose, said, “The Prime Minister agreed to the need for declassification of files and papers on Netaji and INA. He said, like you, I also feel from the heart that these papers should be out and declassified.”
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s daughter Anita Bose Pfaff welcomed the PM’s decision to declassify files related to her father, and said these files are not a family matter, but in the larger public interest.
“Demanding access to historic files is not a family matter but in the interest of the public at large. Netaji is not my or my family’s property but part of the Indian heritage,” she said.
Prime Minister Modi, in a series of tweets, said that, he will also request foreign governments to declassify files on Netaji, available with them.
Will also request foreign Governments to declassify files on Netaji available with them. Shall begin this with Russia in December.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 14, 2015
PM Modi described the interaction with Subas Chandra Bose’s kin as remarkable and extensive. “It was a privilege to welcome family members of Subhas Babu to 7RCR. We had a remarkable & extensive interaction,” he said.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was a freedom fighter of India, and founder of the Indian National Army. During the pre-independence period, Netaji had visited London to discuss the future of India, with the members of the Labor party. His sudden disappearance from Taiwan, led to surfacing of various theories regarding the possibilities of his survival.