Centre non-committal on declassification of Netaji files

The Centre on Friday remained non-committal over the declassification of all files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, saying it was difficult to predict when to release all such documents.

“Some files were already declassified by the Central government and sent to the National Archive. However, a decision has to be taken on the remaining files whether to declassify them or not. I cannot say when it will be done,” Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said.

On December 17, 2014, MoS for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary told Parliament that the Ministry of External Affairs was holding on to 29 files and the Prime Minister’s Office still had 60 files related to Netaji.

Chaudhary had also said that the MEA informed the Home Ministry that the information contained in these files is of sensitive nature and bringing this information in public domain at this juncture is not desirable from the point of view of India's relations with other countries. 

Sixty-four secret files relating to Netaji that could help throw light on his mysterious disappearance – an enduring enigma for seven decades – were on Friday released by West Bengal government with CM Mamata Banerjee asking the Centre to follow suit.