Mission Netaji

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Mission Netaji is a Delhi based Indian non-profit trust, conducting research on Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Mission Netaji mainly looks into the circumstances of disappearance of Netaji. Mission Netaji runs the website www.missionnetaji.org. Mission Netaji is of the view that Indian governments over the years have been trying to smother the truth[1].

According to the Indian government, Netaji Bose died in a plane crash in Taihoku (Now, in Taiwan) on August 18, 1945[2]. His remains are kept at the Renkoji Temple in Japan. But from the documents Mission Netaji could collect, it is clear that Bose had plans to escape to Russia during August 1945 and the plane crash was a cover-up to mislead the British. This possibility was also hinted by Justice MK Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry that probed into this case[3].

Anuj Dhar, one of the founders of Mission Netaji, was instrumental in earning valuable information from the Taiwan government that no plane crash involving Netaji Bose had happened in or around Taihoku airport on or around August 18, 1945.[4] The Mukherjee Commission corroborated this finding.[5] But, the Indian government rejected the findings of the commission.[6] Since then, Mission Netaji has been fighting to bring out the truth, utilising the Right to Information Act.[7][8][9]

Mission Netaji approached the Central Information Coucil of India, under the Right to Information Act[10], protesting against the Indian government's indifference in this matter. This has been a legal battle, covering almost all clauses in the RTI Act. Mission Netaji calls this fight by the name 'Right To Information Crusade' (RTI Crusade).[11]

Contents

[edit] Mission and Objectives

The objectives of Mission Netaji are:

  • To collect and preserve all relevant intelligence, de-classified documents and manuscripts, photographs and films, records and other objects and materials - relating to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
  • To establish a world wide network of committed individuals, groups and organisations, sharing a common vision.
  • To publish materials dealing with the mystery surrounding the sudden disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
  • To provide medical relief to the weaker section of the society.
  • To take steps to eradicate illiteracy.
  • To encourage and support the efforts aimed at eradicating discrimination based on caste, religion and gender.
  • To take appropriate measures for providing aid and assistance to the people affected by natural calamities or devastating accidents.
  • To organize and conduct such appropriate schemes, activities and ventures for the welfare of the people in general, and for charitable purposes as decided by the members from time to time.

[edit] RTI Crusade

Mission Netaji is of the view that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose escaped to the Soviet Union towards the end of the second world war. But the Indian government has been holding on to its claim that Netaji died in the air plane crash on August 18, 1945. The Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry that probed into this case said in its report that there was no such plane crash and Netaji didn't die on the said date. The Indian government dumped this report, favouring the findings of two former commissions that probed into this case in the second half of the 1900s, headed by Shah Nawaz Khan and then GD Khosla.

Due to these discrepancies in the reports, Mission Netaji decided to launch its information seeking campaign entitled 'RTI Crusade'[12]. The organisation utilises the Right To Information Act to seek evidences from various governmental wings, with pleas submitted to the Central Information Council of India. This has been an enduring fight between the government and Mission Netaji.

Mission Netaji seeks information from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). Mission Netaji, so far, has been successful in creating importance to this issue, which was long forgotten by the public and the administrators alike. The approach from the part of the government has not been encouraging.

[edit] Documents sought by Mission Netaji, with latest statuses

  • PMO: Information whether the PMO and R&AW, which reports to the Prime Minister, hold several classified records on Subhas Chandra Bose. If yes, a descriptive list of such records/materials thereof.
    • Current Status:
      • PMO has said that the disclosure would harm India's relations with foreign countries.[13]
      • PMO has sought dismissal of RTI appeal on the destroyed files regarding Bose.[14][15]
  • MEA: Certified copies of the complete correspondence the MEA has had with the Governments of the USSR and the Russian Federation over the disappearance of Netaji.
    • Current Status:
      • CIC rejects government's stance on Russia correspondence papers. Commission tells government to take up the matter with Russians if it feared that the disclosure would harm relations between the two nations.[16]
  • MHA: Authenticated copies of the all documents exhibited before the Shah Nawaz Committee (1956) and GD Khosla Commission (1970-74).
    • Current Status:
      • CIC demands MHA to disclose information on Netaji mystery within three months. This order came on July 5, 2007. [17]
      • CIC scolds Home Ministry for not parting with the information. [18]
      • Full CIC bench to hear MHA-Netaji secret papers case.[19][20]
  • R&AW: Are there any records/materials on and relating to Subhas Chandra Bose in RAW?
    • Current Status:
      • Cannot intervene in Netaji-R&AW case, says CIC.[21]

[edit] References

  1. ^ No information on Netaji, says RAW - Worldnews.com
  2. ^ Netaji did not die in aircrash: web site
  3. ^ No information on Netaji, says RAW-India-The Times of India
  4. ^ outlookindia.com | wired
  5. ^ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
  6. ^ The Hindu : National : Members demand full debate on panel report
  7. ^ http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/05_2007/govt-opposes-on-rti-on-netaji-file-41779.html
  8. ^ Netaji did not die in aircrash: web site
  9. ^ Some Netaji files may be declassified
  10. ^ Netaji did not die in aircrash: web site
  11. ^ Some Netaji files may be declassified
  12. ^ RTI makes Netaji rise from 'ashes'
  13. ^ :::MISSION NETAJI::: Appellate Authority\'s answer
  14. ^ PMO seeks dismissal of RTI appeal on Netaji file-India-The Times of India
  15. ^ PMO seeks dismissal of RTI appeal on destroyed file on Netaji- Hindustan Times
  16. ^ outlookindia.com | wired
  17. ^ CIC asks MHA to reveal Netaji death secrets
  18. ^ http://news.google.co.in/news/url?sa=t&ct=in/1-0&fp=466a26ea4d8487ef&ei=J9ZqRp7AKp3YqgPvi6ydCA&url=http%3A//www.ibnlive.com/news/govt-in-a-spot-over-netaji-info/42295-3.html&cid=0
  19. ^ The Hindu News Update Service
  20. ^ Zee News - Full panel of CIC to decide on documents on Netaji
  21. ^ :::MISSION NETAJI::: Cannot intervene in Netaji-R&AW case, says CIC

[edit] See also

[edit] External links