Japan set to declassify 2 key Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose files

In a significant step which may help unravel some mystery about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s death, two crucial files related to him will be declassified by Japan by the end of this year, even though that country has given no assurance regarding three more such files in its custody, the Centre informed Parliament on Tuesday.

Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha that these five files, which are with Japan, could be “crucial” to resolve the mystery over the fate of Bose.

“Japan has conveyed to us that they will declassify two of the five files by the end of this year but no commitment has been given to the rest of the three files. But we are hopeful that they will declassify the remaining three files too,” he said during Question Hour.

The minister said two files relating to Netaji which were with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the ministry of home affairs (MHA) continue to be missing and efforts were on to trace them.

While the file which was with the PMO related to bringing back the ashes believed to be those of Netaji from Renkoji temple in Japan to India and installation of his statue at Red Fort, the file which was with the MHA too was related to the ashes, he said, adding efforts were on to find these two files.

Mr Rijiju said India has approached a number of countries to retrieve any documents related to Netaji and they have responded to the requests.

Austria, Russia and the United States have conveyed to the Indian government that they do not have any file or document relating to Netaji.