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During a meeting attended by Prime Minister Modi, the alleged illegal occupation of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund office within the Teen Murti premises was highlighted
It is possible that the cartons contain official correspondence of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, and this can only be verified once officials review the contents, BJP sources say. File image/X
Following a recent clash between the Gandhis and the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library, which has already sent three reminders to Sonia Gandhi to return 51 cartons of Jawaharlal Nehru’s letters, another dispute is brewing between the two sides.
During a meeting attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, some members highlighted the alleged illegal occupation of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund office within the Teen Murti premises. In 2018, the urban development ministry’s department of estates sent a letter to the Congress to vacate the office, stating that it was public property not rented out and therefore illegally occupied by the Congress. However, before further action could be taken, the Congress approached the courts, which stayed the eviction demand.
The issue has resurfaced, with sentiments that the Congress should have vacated the office by now, as it was deemed illegally occupied. Sources indicate that some members asked why no legal action had been taken yet, suggesting that the memorial should have approached the courts or the urban development ministry to enforce the eviction.
According to top sources in the memorial, News18 has learned that legal action is now imminent. The sources stated that the office is public property funded by taxpayers and cannot be occupied by any political party. Regarding the 51 cartons of letters, there is a belief among some members that many of these letters may not be private, as claimed by the Gandhis. It is possible that the cartons contain official correspondence of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, and this can only be verified once officials review the contents. News18 has also learnt that legal options are being seriously considered, questioning the Congress’s claim that the letters are private.
Additionally, News18 has learnt that there may be an investigation into why the memorial’s board members agreed to release the letters in 2008, potentially violating principles of public accountability.
The Congress has responded by calling it another instance of political witch-hunt and a diversionary tactic by the BJP and the government amid multiple questions directed at them. From the BJP’s perspective, this is another example showing that the Congress is primarily concerned with the Gandhis, whether it’s the National Herald case, Young India, the cartons, or the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund office. The Congress party is seen as disregarding public money, focusing solely on protecting the Gandhis. Thus, another office has become a point of contention between the BJP and the Congress, and the matter may ultimately be resolved in court.
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als…Read More
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als… Read More
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