We won't open files and we won't divulge details about Subhas Bose's death. If we do it, the people will be in trouble, the Government will be in trouble and our ties with friendly countries will be in trouble.

Shorn of its gobbledygook, this is the crux of the Union Home Secretary Kamal Pande's affidavit submitted before the Mukherjee Commission. The Commission, probing the 'death' of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on January 1, 2001 to file a supplementary affidavit regarding the claim of privilege for certain files on Subhas Bose. And this is what Home Secretary Kamal Pande, evidently the man who knows too much, has to say:

"I have carefully examined the documents... and I am bonafide satisfied that the disclosure of the documents would cause injury to the public interest and the public interest would suffer thereby.

"I believe that disclosure of the nature and contents of these documents would also hurt the sentiments of the people at large and may evoke wide-spread reactions as these documents if disclosed may lower the image of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

"Diplomatic relations with friendly countries may also be adversely affected if the said documents are disclosed."

Is the MHA caught in a time wrap or something? Why would there be a public outcry now? ' Wide-spread reaction' against what? This is year 2001 and, for successive governments at least, Subhas Bose died' 56 years ago.

Why on earth will the details on a death caused by an 'accidental air crash' at the end of World War II cause any setback to India's diplomatic ties with her friends? An accident is an accident, no one is going to blame country 'A' or country 'B' for it. What can possibly lower the image of a towering figure? What is so revolting about these Top Secret files?

The Government's slip is showing. It could also be a case of Freudian slip on Mr Pande's part? His 10 page duly attested document goes on to put under restraint over a half- century- old public concern. The truth about Subhas Bose's death is still not going to be available. Otherwise, why the departmental head of the MHA will make such sweeping and startling statements?

If indeed Bose died in a plane crash - and this is what the Top Secret documents establish - what possibly should scare the daylight out of the Government to make them keep sitting on them.

November 11, 1993, detailing views on the controversy regarding Bose's death and the question of bringing the 'ashes' to India from Japan.

On March 18, 1994 a Special Secretary in the MHA writes to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) about the disclosure made in the Russian magazine. By April 20, 1994 the Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary are talking about these articles.

On August 20, 1994, a core group of the Cabinet Secretariat holds a meet on the controversy regarding Subhas Bose's 'death'. On March 3, 1995 the Home Secretary takes up the issue of bringing the 'ashes' to India with Foreign Secretary.

The matter reaches the top on January 1, 1996, with a MHA joint secretary sending inputs on possible DNA analysis of the 'ashes' to the PMO.