Netaji’s kin meet Modi over Secret Files Declassification

Kolkata, May 9 (IANS): Descendants of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who have been campaigning for declassification of secret files on the nationalist leader, on Saturday exuded confidence of a positive outcome after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Led by Netaji’s grand nephew Chandra Kumar Bose, the family members met Modi, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal for the first time after becoming prime minister.

Describing the meeting as positive, Chandra Kumar said Modi asked the family members and other Netaji scholars to make a joint effort for the process of declassification of over 100 files said to be with the central government and 64 files with the Bengal government.

“His approach towards our demand for declassification was very positive. Declassification is a long drawn process and cannot be initiated instantly. He has called for a joint effort from the Netaji family, historians and researchers and the government,” said Chandra Kumar.

He said the family members have been invited to Delhi for a meeting to initiate the joint effort for declassification of the files.

They also raised the issue of alleged snooping on the Netaji family by successive Congress governments.

“We did raise the snooping issue with the prime minister. But we do not want to see the issue in isolation. Once the secret files are declassified, the who and why the snooping was ordered will itself become clear,” said Chandra Kumar.