Kolkata: Turning down an RTI appeal, the Prime Minister's Office has said releasing secret files about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's widow Emilie Schenkl and daughter Anita Bose may upset relations with foreign countries.
Chandrachur Ghose, who runs the website www.subhaschandrabose.org, had appealed under the RTI Act to provide access to letters written by Netaji's widow and daughter to the government.
"The three files in question are classified and disclosure of the documents contained in them would prejudicially affect relations with foreign countries," the PMO said in its reply.
Signed by Rajeev Topno, director (PMO), the response said these files were therefore exempt from disclosure under Section 8(1)(a) read with section 8(2) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
"Based on the reasons given above, no further action is called for on your appeal and the same is accordingly disposed of," it said.
Mr Ghose, who is writing a biography on the leader, said the life and times of Netaji, who had disappeared in 1945, is a mystery since many files relating to it are held by various government departments.
In an earlier disclosure under the RTI appeal made by 'Mission Netaji', a Delhi-based research trust, the PMO had admitted that it was holding 33 secret files on Netaji.
"The only reason why the Government is able to keep files about Netaji secret in this age and time is that there is no one to apply pressure on it. No political party of consequence or a state government stands up for Netaji today, unlike other national icons such as Bhagat Singh, Sardar Patel and Babasaheb Ambedkar," said Anuj Dhar, author of two books on Netaji.
When under house arrest by the Britishers, Netaji had escaped from India in 1941 to seek international support for India's freedom struggle. After organising the Indian National Army with Japanese help he went missing in 1945, giving birth to India's most debated and puzzling mystery.
The Mukherjee Commission had rejected the opinion that he died in a plane crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945.
Chandrachur Ghose, who runs the website www.subhaschandrabose.org, had appealed under the RTI Act to provide access to letters written by Netaji's widow and daughter to the government.
"The three files in question are classified and disclosure of the documents contained in them would prejudicially affect relations with foreign countries," the PMO said in its reply.
"Based on the reasons given above, no further action is called for on your appeal and the same is accordingly disposed of," it said.
Advertisement
In an earlier disclosure under the RTI appeal made by 'Mission Netaji', a Delhi-based research trust, the PMO had admitted that it was holding 33 secret files on Netaji.
Advertisement
When under house arrest by the Britishers, Netaji had escaped from India in 1941 to seek international support for India's freedom struggle. After organising the Indian National Army with Japanese help he went missing in 1945, giving birth to India's most debated and puzzling mystery.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Delhi Prisons Announces Remission For 1160 Convicts On Independence Day In A 1st, All Women India, Bangladesh Border Troops Exchange Independence Day Greetings Amid Reports Of Links With IPL Side, VVS Laxman Likely To Extend Stay At NCA Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP This US City Has Been Declared America's Least Desirable, Survey Finds "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Ukraine, Russia Both Claim Advances In Kursk Region Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway In Qatar As Deaths Top 40,000 Trump To Hold Press Conference, His Campaign Adds Senior Advisers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.