In a first instance of its kind, the world's the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has declassified and released to an Indian citizen based in India two records sought under the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
As he relinquished the post of Chief Information Commissioner, the mild-mannered Wajahat Habibullah gave his parting gift to all declassification enthusiasts. Brushing aside the protestations of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Central Information Commission has asked it to release 290 records exhibited before Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry which probed the death of Subhas Chandra Bose between 2000-20004.
Speaking at Kolkata's Netaji Research Bureau on the occasion of Netaji's 112th birth anniversary, Italy's ambassador to India Alessandro Quaroni struck what seemed like right notes on the great leader's life. On death, however, he struck a wrong one: "News of his (Bose's) accidental death reached my father in Moscow...I don't see any point in continuing with the research on whether he died in a crash or not."
Note of Louis Fischer" regarding a conversation between Alessandro's father, Petro Quaroni, who was the Italian ambassador (after World War II) to the erstwhile USSR, and Netaji that took place in Moscow on 15 November, 1946.....
The following has been taken from the Letter to the Editor of The Statesman which appeared on the 5th of February,'09.
Sir,
I feel elated to recount my first meeting with Netaji.
Our Reaction to the Italian Ambassador's statement on Netaji's Death...Mr.V.P.Saini, the Convenor of Netaji Subhas Kranti Manch, sent the following mail to the Prime Minister of Italy asking for his clarifications...
The Prime Minster of Italy, Rome. Italy.
Subject : Statement of Italy's Ambassador in India about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
