The secret files related to Subhas Chandra Bose will be declassified by the central government beginning 23 January next year, PM Modi announced.

New Delhi: The secret files related to Subhas Chandra Bose will be declassified by the central government beginning 23 January next year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Wednesday as he met Netaji's family members and declared "there is no need to strangle history".

He said he will also urge foreign governments to declassify files on Netaji available with them by writing to them and personally taking up with foreign leaders, beginning with Russia in December.

His announcement regarding an issue that has been hanging fire for seven decades came when he received 35 family members of Bose at his official residence in New Delhi and interacted with them for an hour.

"Process of declassification of files relating to Netaji will begin on 23rd January 2016, Subhas Babu's birth anniversary," Modi tweeted later.

"Will also request foreign governments to declassify files on Netaji available with them. Shall begin this with Russia in December," he said in another tweet.

Declaring that "there is no need to strangle history", he said "Nations that forget their history lack the power to create it."

There have been demands by Netaji's family and several others for declassification of secret files as they hope that it will help answer questions regarding his mysterious disappearance in 1945.

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

"I told Subhas Babu's family members - please consider me a part of your family. They shared their valuable suggestions with me," the Prime Minister said, while remarking that "it was a privilege to welcome" them to 7, Race Course Road, his official residence.

"We had a remarkable & extensive interaction," Modi said.

I told Subhas Babu's family members- please consider me a part of your family. They shared their valuable suggestions with me. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 14, 2015

There is no need to strangle history. Nations that forget their history lack the power to create it. pic.twitter.com/Nfz94f3tsq — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 14, 2015

Process of declassification of files relating to Netaji will begin on 23rd January 2016, Subhas Babu's birth anniversary. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 14, 2015

Will also request foreign Governments to declassify files on Netaji available with them. Shall begin this with Russia in December. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 14, 2015

It was a privilege to welcome family members of Subhas Babu to 7RCR. We had a remarkable & extensive interaction. pic.twitter.com/Zxa5K3ZBdo — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 14, 2015

During the interaction where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Home Minister Rajnath Singh were also present, the family members requested for declassification of the files available with the government of India.

They suggested that the government of India initiate the process to get the files on Netaji available with foreign governments to also be declassified, a PMO statement said.

The Prime Minister said he finds the suggestions of the family members of Netaji to be similar to his own thinking and the view of the union government, it said.

He agreed with the suggestion to request foreign governments to declassify files on Netaji available with them.

Modi said he would not only write to them but also take up the matter during his meetings with foreign leaders, beginning with Russia in December, the statement said.

He also shared with the family members some instances of how he had recalled Netaji during his term as Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Amid growing demands for declassification of the files, the Prime Minister had disclosed in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme on 20 September that he would be receiving Netaji's family members at his residence in October.

He had noted that it would perhaps be the first time that the family members of Netaji would be together visiting the Prime Minister's residence.

PTI