Bengal government quizzed for not declassifying Netaji files

Some members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's family on Wednesday questioned why the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal continues to sit on several secret files on the revolutionary leader.

The reaction came a day after Trinamool Congress MP Sugata Bose met union Home Minister Rajnath Singh over declassification of Netaji files.

"Sugata Bose met Rajnath Singh requesting to release all classified documents which are 50 years old held by the central government. But why is he silent over the 64 files which are kept hidden by the Trinamool government in West Bengal," asked Chandra Kumar Bose, a grandnephew of Netaji.

Chandra Kumar is convener of Open Platform comprising a host of descendants of the nationalist leader and researchers steadfastly campaigning for declassification of Netaji files.

"Bose family members and the Open Platform have written numerous letters to the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her support on this national issue. But she has not bothered to spare even a single response," said Chandra Kumar.

Chandra Kumar along with members of the Open Platform earlier in the month took out a rally demanding declassification of over 100 files said to be the central government and 64 files with the Bengal government.

Hailing the central government's decision set up a high-level panel to decide on declassification of secret files, Chandra Kumar said the Mamata government should follow the suit.