Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the Lok Sabha on Monday that “action can be taken” on the demand that some letters of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru that were seized in 2008 by Sonia Gandhi should be returned to the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. NMML).
Speaking during question hour in the Lower House, BJP MP Sambit Patra said the issue was raised at the annual meeting of the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library, which succeeded the NMML, earlier this year. He said some letters between Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten, Babu Jagjivan Ram and Jayaprakash Narayan were removed from the museum by MV Rajan in 2008 and sent to Gandhi, who was the chairman of the United Progressive Alliance, in 51 boxes.
The MP raised the issue hours after The Indian Express reported that Ahmedabad-based historian Rizwan Kadri had written to Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi seeking his help in returning documents seized by his mother’s representative.
Patra said the records are important for understanding India’s history and urged the culture department to investigate the matter and return the records to the museum.
In response, Shekhawat said that he has seen the proposal and no action can be taken.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters later, Patra called the books “historical heritage” and not the property of any family.
“What was in the books that the first family felt should not be made public,” asked Patra.
Patra said there were two things—one, “the idea of ​​getting the right of the first family”, and the second, what was the content of the book. He reiterated that he wants the matter investigated and the books returned to the museum.
Priyanka supports the attack on minorities in Bangladesh
Congress member Priyanka Gandhi Vadra raised in the Lok Sabha the issue of recent attacks on Hindus and Christians in Bangladesh and asked the Government to extend support to the victims.
Speaking on Zero Hour, the Wayanad Member of Parliament said, “This Government should raise its voice against the injustice done to the minorities, Hindus and Christians, in Bangladesh. There should be dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh and they should fully support those who are in pain.”
Vadra also raised the issue of a painting depicting the Pakistani army surrendering to the Indian Army in Dhaka in 1971 being removed from the Defense Ministry’s South Block. This mural has been the center of many official meetings of the military chief and visiting dignitaries.
Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat later informed the House that the painting had been transferred to its “rightful place” at the Manekshaw Center on Monday, marking Vijay Divas, the day the instrument of surrender was signed in Dhaka on December 16, 1971.
Attacks on minorities in Bangladesh have been an issue raised by MPs on both sides of the aisle. When Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske raised the issue, TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay demanded that the Government make a statement on it.
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