NEW DELHI: Towing the UPA line, the NDA government has also refused to make public classified files on the mysterious disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in response to an RTI query, claiming that disclosure would affect ties with foreign countries.
“Four ‘Top Secret’ files, which are held by the PMO, include miscellaneous correspondence with and about the widow and daughter of Netaji, transfer of his ashes to India and two files on the Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry looking into his death/disappearance,” the PMO has said.
There are 20 files classified as ‘Secret’, including one related to acquisition of Jankinath Bhavan - the birth place of Netaji - by the then Orissa government, five files from the late 1960s on the appointment of an inquiry committee to go into the circumstances of the “death” of Netaji, correspondence with and about his wife and daughter, another inquiry commission to look into the treasure of INA, two references from Samar Guha, MP, on his disappearance, Bharat Ratna award to Netaji and a number of files on his death/disappearance among others. The rest of the files are categorised as ‘Classified’, which include issues related to his mortal remains kept in Rankoji temple in Japan, while on the rest no particular subject is mentioned.
RTI applicant Subhash Agrawal said, “Public interest definitely overweighs the protected as several commissions have been formed by the Centre to probe the mystery behind the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.”