Will look into India's request for declassification of Netaji's files: Russia

Russia assured India that they will look into their request for declassification of files related to Netaji.

Delhi: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov assured External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday that they will look into India's request for declassification of files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Swaraj, who is on a trip to Russia, requested Lavrov's cooperation in declassification of Netaji's files.

“We asked if there is any Netaji files information that can be shared, FM Lavrov said he will see if Russia had any information on this, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, as per ANI.

On October 14, meeting long-pending demands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that government will start unveiling the secret files related to Netaji from January 23 next year, raising hopes about solving the seven-decade-old mystery about his disappearance.

Declaring that there was no need to strangle history, Modi had told Netaji's family members during a meeting in the national capital that he would also urge foreign governments to declassify files on Bose available with them by writing to them and personally taking up with their leaders, beginning with Russia in December.

Modi had made the announcements while hosting Netaji's 35 family members who welcomed it and hoped that the "historic" decision would finally lift the veil over his mysterious disappearance, as per PTI.

Successive governments have refused to make public these documents, arguing that India's relations with foreign countries would be jeopardised.

Modi's office too had stated till August this year that the files cannot be declassified as it will adversely affect relations with foreign countries.

Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal recently declassified 64 files which were in its possession.

(With PTI inputs)