Should Netaji's files be disclosed?

Should Netaji's files be disclosed?

Introduction

BJP had demanded the Congress government months back when it was in power to disclose the Netaji files. Now when BJP comes to power, it refused to disclose the files. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a recent RTI reply accepted that there were 41 files related to Bose, of which two had been declassified, but refused to disclose them which has led to rise in controversies regarding the content of the files and the intentions of the government. The secrets that these files might contain have made people curious and everyone wants to solve the mysteries related to the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The great freedom fighter’s death has always been a mystery and with new dimensions revealed after the book by Anuj Dhar, the curiosity has grown to a great extent.

Yes, the files should be disclosed:

1. The behavioral patterns of the ministers of the other countries regarding the disclosure of Netaji files have always been strange. Even now, years after the incident, nobody wants to talk about it. It is the right of the citizens to know what exactly happened on that day.’

2. Former PMO Nehru reported to have never received the ashes of Netaji after the plane crash incident. If Netaji died in the crash, why were the ashes never sent to India? These questions clearly point that Netaji might not have died in the crash and there might be political conspiracy behind the confusion.

3. Both the British and the Russian government have secret files related to Netaji but they neither speak about them nor does the Indian government ask for them. It seems that the government is either afraid to ask for the files or has no interest in disclosing the political conspiracy that points towards the mystery of Netaji’s death.

4. A freedom fighter and one of the greatest ones indeed, a martyr perhaps, and the country does not care about knowing what exactly happened of the great leader who fought for the country. The government cannot deny the question just on grounds that it might hurt the sentiments of people or create differences with other countries that are friends with our nation.

5. The Mukherjee commission that was set up to enquire about the death of Netaji brought out surprising reports that claimed that the government of India, at the PMO level, indulged in the systematic and illegal destruction of files pertaining to Netaji’s death. The Government of India was even disinclined to carry out an enquiry in Taiwan but justice Mukherjee forced the Chinese government to admit the truth that there was no such plane crash in Taiwan as reported. The political conspiracy has to be revealed and the government must stop covering it up.

6. Even after Indian government declared the death of Netaji, Russia continued to report the presence of Netaji in their country. This could have involved serious conspiracy that led the government to stop the enquiry and hide the files.

7. Before being elected, BJP president Rajnath Singh, during a visit to Cuttack - the birthplace of Netaji - on the occasion of his 117th birth anniversary, had
stipulated that the Congress government should make public the records related to the freedom fighter. Singh is now the Home Minister and they refuse to make the files public. The accusation seems to hit them back.

No, the files should not be revealed:

1. It has been clarified that disclosure of documents contained in these files would prejudicially affect relations with foreign countries. As such, these files are exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(a) read with Section 8(2) of the Right to Information Act.

2. The revelation of these files might prejudicially affect” relations with foreign countries. India does not want to spoil the friendly terms it has with the other countries and if the files could lead to clashes, it is better that the files be kept secret.

3. There are reports that claim: Disclosure of the nature and contents of these documents would hurt the sentiments of the people at large and may evoke wide-spread reactions. Diplomatic relations with friendly countries may also be adversely affected if the said documents are disclosed. The documents are so sensitive; their public disclosure may lead to a serious law and order problem in the country.

Conclusion:

India is a free country and there is absolutely no need for the government to be afraid of disclosing the files. The people of the country need an answer to the political controversies to which one of the greatest leaders of the freedom fight might have succumbed to. Those closely related to Netaji have also want to know the reality but their pleas have been turned down as the police turns down the missing cases of the unknown people of the country. It is high time to come out of the fears and prejudices and reveal the facts contained in the secret files.