NEW DELHI: The first batch of 33 secret files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose were today handed over by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to the National Archives, setting the stage for their declassification next month.
These files were handed over after being cleared by the PMO, it said.
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi had on October 14 announced that the first batch
of the secret files would be declassified from January 23, the birth
anniversary of Netaji, meeting the long-pending demand of Bose's family.
Emphasising that history cannot be created by those who
forget their own history, Modi had categorically stated that his
government did not believe in constraining or strangulating history in
any way, and was committed to opening up information on Netaji to the
people of India.
He had also assured Netaji's family
that he would take up with leaders of other countries the issue of
declassification of the documents with them.
"Working
towards this commitment, the government has been undertaking the process
of due diligence stipulated under declassification procedures and
guidelines," the statement said
