Tag: declassification of files

Bengal CM expresses shock over Centre’s RTI reply on Netaji

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Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today expressed shock over the Central Government’s recent reply to an RTI query regarding Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

“I am shocked to see this unilateral decision of the Central Government without evidence. Netaji is a great son of the soil. Our state, the country and the whole world are proud of him,” she said.

“Any matter involving a person of his stature does not deserve to be handled in such a casual manner. I have drawn the attention of Hon’ble Prime Minister to this matter and has sought the considered stand of Central Government in this regard,” the CM wrote on her Facebook page.

Bengal Government had declassified all files related to Netaji in September, 2015.

নেতাজিকে নিয়ে কেন্দ্রের আরটিআই এর উত্তরে বিষ্ময় প্রকাশ মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের

নেতাজি সুভাষ চন্দ্র বসুর মৃত্যুরহস্য সংক্রান্ত এক আরটিআই প্রশ্নে কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের জবাবে দিয়েছে তাতে বিষ্ময় প্রকাশ করলেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

তিনি বলেন, “নেতাজির মৃত্যুরহস্যের ব্যাপারে কোনও প্রমাণ ছাড়া কেন্দ্রীয় সরকার যেভাবে একতরফা জবাব দিয়েছে তাতে আমি বিস্মিত। নেতাজি এদেশের এক কৃতি সন্তান। আমাদের রাজ্য, আমাদের দেশ তথা সারা বিশ্ব তাঁকে নিয়ে গর্ব অনুভব করে।”

তিনি ফেসবুকে লেখেন, “তাঁর মতো মর্যাদাপূর্ণ কোনও ব্যাক্তির কোনও গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ব্যাপার এত দায়িত্বজ্ঞ্যানহীনভাবে দেখা উচিত নয়। আমি এই ব্যাপারে মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর দৃষ্টি আকর্ষণ করেছি; কেন্দ্র এই ব্যাপারে তাদের অবস্থান স্পষ্ট করুক”।

WB Govt declassifies state cabinet files of 1938-47 era

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After the declassification of Netaji files, Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal government today made public, the files of the cabinet meetings that were held during 1938-47, which was the crucial pre-independence era.

Reiterating the fact that she believes in transparency, the Chief Minister said: “Just talking about Digital India is not enough. It must be followed by action. Digitisation of files is one such step taken by us. We hope the stand taken by our government regarding declassification of files will be adopted by other governments also.”

A total of 401 files have been declassified today and in future the government plans to declassify files of post-independence era, WB CM said.

“In this age of internet and social media, we believe in transparency. That is why we declassified files. People must know the truth,” she added.

WB CM tweeted:

After Netaji files, WB Govt to digitise 1938-47 Cabinet files

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After the Netaji files, West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday indicated that the Bengal government would make public next week the minutes of the cabinet meetings from 1938-47 — the crucial pre-Independence decade.

Ruing that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s contribution and legacy haven’t been assessed properly, Mamata Banerjee told the state assembly that the Centre should follow the state’s example and open up the files it has on the freedom fighter.

“We have declassified 64 Netaji files. The immense contribution of Netaji has not been evaluated properly. We feel that the Centre should follow us and declassify the files,” the Chief Minister said.

She added that her government would also digitise files of cabinet decisions taken by the British administration between 1937 and 1947.

Here’s what the Chief Minister tweeted:

Netaji files declassification: Bose family members thank WB CM

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The members of the family of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose burst into a round of applause when chief minister Mamata Banerjee demanded the declassification of the 130 Netaji related files that are in the custody of the Union government.

All the family members burst into an ecstatic outburst after the Bengal chief minister demanded that “truth must come out as the entire nation is eagerly waiting to hear the truth”.

Netaji’s family members could not suppress their joy after Mamata Banerjee stressed on the declassification of the 130 secret files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose by the Centre.

The Netaji family members were eager to know the fate of Netaji as soon as the files were opened for public viewing.

“The state government has made all the files that were with them public. Now, it is the Centre’s turn to let us know about the contents of the 130 files because they may well reveal the truth behind Netaji’s disappearance,” Krishna Bose said.

Centre must declassify files on Netaji: Mamata Banerjee

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today demanded that the Central government must declassify all the files in its possession concerning Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. She was addressing the press after going through the 64 declassified files at Kolkata Police Museum.

After her announcement on September 11, 2015 that all files concerning Netaji in the possession of West Bengal government will be declassified in a week, CDs of the digitised files were handed over today to the family members of Netaji and the press. The files will be open for public viewing from Monday.

WB CM said, “We all know the birth date of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. We do not know about his death. We want the truth to come out.”

Maintaining that she has “fulfilled our responsibility to the people”, she urged the Centre to declassify the files in their possession. “We have made the beginning. People must know about the final days of Netaji. He must get his due recognition,” she said.

“If the Centre has nothing to hide, why is it not declassifying the files? We want to know the truth. We believe in transparency and accountability,” the CM added.

WB CM also assured that law and order situation, if any, will be taken care of by the government. She termed it a mere excuse and stressed that Centre must declassify Netaji files “for the sake of the nation”.

She added that the Centre can solve bilateral issues if it wants. “Why would relations with other countries be spoiled if we honour our great icons who fought for our freedom?” she wondered.

West Bengal govt declassifies Netaji files

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All 64 files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose were declassified today and put on display at Kolkata Police Museum, as per the wishes of WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee.

The Chief Minister had announced on September 11, 2015 that 64 files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in possession of West Bengal government will be brought to public domain from September 18. She also announced to digitize the files dating from 1937 to 1947.

“A total 64 files are with us. There may be one or two more. After reviewing all the files, we have decided to put them in public domain from next Friday,” WB CM had announced at Nabanna.

A DVD of the 64 digitised files was handed over to the members of Netaji’s family. The archives can be accessed by common public from Monday onwards on first come, first serve basis.

“We want to maintain transparency and accountability. We don’t feel that there is anything related to internal security in the files. Everybody wants to know what happened to Netaji. He was a national icon. We know about his date of birth. We have no idea about his death. People deserve to know about his last day,” the Chief Minister had said.

WB CM tweeted:

WB Govt to bring files related to Netaji in public domain: WB CM

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today announced that the State Government has decided to bring 64 files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in public domain.

The files will be on display for the public at Kolkata Police Archives from September 18, 2015 (next Friday). “The files available with the State Government would be available for the public in a systematic manner,” WB CM said.

While addressing a press conference at Nabanna, the Chief Minister said that she believed in transparency and accountability. “People must know about Netaji. He was a national icon,” she said.

Stating that Netaji lived in Kolkata and that his roots belong to Bengal, WB CM maintained it is only appropriate that the people get to know all the facts about him.

“We know Netaji’s date of birth. We have no idea about his death. People deserve to know about his last days”, she said.

“We will slowly undertake the process of digitisation of all files from 1937-1947,” the Chief Minister added.

Release all Netaji files more than 50 years old: Sugata Bose to Centre

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Eminent historian, grand nephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Jadavpur MP Sugata Bose today urged the government of India to release all files related to Netaji. He also demanded that the government make it clear why and under whose orders were freedom fighters and members of Netaji’s family under surveillance post independence.

“The government must immediately clarify the reasons and under whose orders the surveillance was carried out, the date on which the surveillance began and the date on which it ended and the reasons for the gross invasion of privacy of the law-abiding citizens and freedom fighters,” he said.

Dr Bose added, “This is not a family matter. It is an important national and historical matter that must not be allowed to degenerate into party-political controversies. A decision should be taken at the highest level to immediately release all files more than 50 years old to put an end to unnecessary speculation.”

He also urged upon the government to follow the primary lesson of Netaji’s life and work. “To honour Netaji’s memory, let us ensure minorities in India feel safe and secure & that they continue to enjoy equal rights,” Sugata Bose said.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech

Sugata Bose speaks on the issue of surveillance on Netaji’s family | Full Transcript

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Full Transcript

Madam, I speak on a matter of historical importance. The whole country has been shocked by revelation of several files. The government of India, through its intelligence agencies, conducted intrusive surveillance for two decades after independence on freedom fighters, who made huge sacrifices for the nation during the freedom struggle, under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

The surveillance included opening, reading and copying the correspondence between Netaji’s nephew and freedom fighter Sisir Kumar Bose in Kolkata and Netaji’s wife Emily in Vienna. There is also evidence that veterans of the Azad Hind Movement, including SA Aiyer, Netaji’s Minister for Publicity, were put under surveillance in Mumbai.

The Home Minister is present here. The government must immediately clarify the reasons and under whose orders the surveillance was carried out, the date on which the surveillance began and the date on which it ended and the reasons for the gross invasion of privacy of the law-abiding citizens and freedom fighters.

This is not a family matter. It is an important national and historical matter that must not be allowed to degenerate into party-political controversies. A decision should be taken at the highest level to immediately release all files more than 50 years old to put an end to unnecessary speculation.

Madam Speaker, you may remember the historic midnight session on 15 August, 1997 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India’s independence. Voices of three iconic leaders of India’s freedom struggle – Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose – had been played at the Central Hall of the Parliament. Let us be respectful towards all of these leaders while we address this issue.

Let us not forget the primary lesson from Netaji’s life and work. United, all of the religions of India – Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians – and all the linguistic groups of India fought under the leadership of Netaji. To honour Netaji’s memory, let us ensure minorities in India feel safe and secure & that they continue to enjoy equal rights.

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray Speaks on declassification of files related to Netaji | Transcript

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On July 14, 2014, when the Hon’ble Home Minister replying to the issue to destruction of some Government Files, I asked what about the files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra, whether those have been have been destroyed or not. The Hon’ble Minister said “Mujhe nehi lagta hai ki Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose sambandhit koi file nast kiya gaya hai. Lekin humari sarkar ki functioning puri tarah se transparent hai, sari jankari, in writing, aapko upladh karane ke liye taiyyar hai”.

Based on that assurance, I wrote a letter to the Minister of August 4, 2014, reminding him, apart from the assurance given in the House, as the President of the Ruling Party, on January 23, 2014, he publicly announced if BJP comes to power will definitely take steps to unravel the mystery behind Netaji’s disappearance.

Thereafter, my letter was acknowledged by the Hon’ble Minister on August 22, 2014, saying that the matter is being examined. Typical bureaucratic reply. Based on that assurance, I sent another reminder, on October 21, 2014, but till date whether the matter has been examined, what is the outcome of the examination, nothing is known to us.

Sabha ko bhi kuch jankari nehi di gayi, halaki adarniye Griha Mantriji ne yeh assurance diya tha, jankari denge. So through you, Sir, I would request the Hon’ble Home Minister and the Leader of the House, to convey decision of the Government regarding declassification of all files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

70 saal beet chuka hai. Abhi tak sarkar kyun usko goponiya rakhta hai, dusro neta ki bare me sare dastabez, dalil, abhilekha ghar me bheja gaya. Humari mang hai ki Netaji Subhas Bose ke sare file National Archive me bheja jaye.

The Nation has the right to know what happened to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and why Government is suppressing all these facts.