With just months to go for the West Bengal polls, PM Narendra Modi on Saturday released digital copies of 100 declassified files belonging to Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary at Delhi. The controversy and mystery over Netaji's disappearance and death in 1945 has generated public interest in the past few years.
In December 2015, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had declassified 64 files on Netaji besides putting cabinet papers on him from 1938 to 1947 in the public domain.
“The National Archives of India (NAI) is placing 100 files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji, the Prime Minister will release the digital copies of these files in public domain,” an official release said today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid rich tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary, saying generations of Indians remember him for his bravery and patriotism.
"Remembering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His bravery and patriotism endears him to several Indians across generations," he tweeted.
Modi said, "Today is a special day for all Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts today."
The Prime Minister also put out a proclamation issued by Netaji in 1944 asking Indians to fulfil their 'duty' in liberating India.
Paying tributes to Netaji, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "I bow to 'Netaji' Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today. He is one of the greatest heroes of India's freedom struggle."
BJP President Amit Shah also remembered Netaji on his anniversary, saying, "My tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who inspired innumerable youth with his bravery, courage and patriotism."