Sonia Gandhi; Gajendra Singh Shekhawat NEW DELHI: Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday urged senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to return correspondences and documents of the country’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru—the father of her mother-in-law and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi—to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML).He asserted that the documents “belong to the country” and “not to any individual.”“We have requested the return of around 57 cartons containing roughly 26,000 documents that were taken from the museum. Sonia Gandhi has said she will look into the matter. Naturally, these ministerial documents cannot be the personal property of any individual. We have written two letters to her, and we once again urge that they be returned,” Shekhawat told news agency PTI.He recalled that in April 2008, on Gandhi’s instructions, her representative MV Rajan wrote a letter stating that she wished to take back all the “private family letters” and notes of the Congress stalwart.The minister elaborated, “Over a 20-year period, from 1970 to 1990, all the non-official documents related to Nehru were brought to the museum. This included personal letters he wrote to people, the replies received, and his personal comments and notes. Similar documents of all the prime ministers are preserved in the museum. There are approximately 2.5 crore such documents, of which 4 lakh relate to Pandit Nehru alone.”While documents of other prime ministers remain the museum’s permanent property, Nehru’s were meant only for “safe custody,” he said, adding that it was therefore decided to return to the family any letters they requested.The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) was established in April 1966, following Nehru’s death in May 1964. In June 2023, its name was changed to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society to recognise all of India’s prime ministers.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUnnao Rape Case: Activists Protest Outside Delhi High Court Over Sengar BailShashi Tharoor Responds To Digvijaya Singh, Says Congress Needs Discipline, Not Lessons From RSSPakistan FM Says Islamabad Will Proactively Rebuild Relations With Bangladesh Post PollsHadi Killing: Dhaka Police Say Main Accused Escaped to India via MeghalayaPakistan FM Ishaq Dar Admits India Hit Nur Khan Air Base In Operation Sindoor Strikes‘Advised Me To Hide In Bunker’: Pak President Zardari On Op Sindoor, Responds To PM Modi’s WarningIndian Army Intensifies Anti-Terror Ops In J&K To Flush Out Pak Terrorists Amid Chillai KalanBJP Hails Shashi Tharoor’s Remarks On India’s Foreign Policy, Congress Hits Back‘Hindu Lives Matter’: Protest Outside Bangladesh High Commission In London Over Minority Killings’MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan’: Congress Announces Nationwide Protest Against VB-G RAM G Act123Photostories10 rice dishes from around the worldAntibiotic resistance: Why common infections are getting harder to treatThalapathy Vijay fitness secrets: How simple workouts and balanced food keep him fit at 516 strange and haunting lines from books and classicsFrom hydrogen-powered water taxi to ethereal Ganga aarti: 5 reasons to visit VaranasiAjwain Water: The right way to make it, who should avoid it, and an Ayurvedic tip to consume10 morning chores that can instil discipline in kidsSay this on Monday morning and watch your child run to schoolDoctor explains why you need more water in cold weather than you thinkUP government mandates daily newspaper reading in schools: 4 ways the move is set to improve student learning123Hot PicksKuwait NYEPAN-Aadhaar linkingJeffrey EpsteinGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundIndian Railways fareBank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingFrank Lampard and Christine Lampard Net WorthJordan Spieth Net WorthJake Paul and Jutta Net WorthBode Miller Net WorthTravis KelceLola vice and Damian Net WorthPatrick MahomesNavjot Singh SidhuChloe KimNBA Trade Rumor
NEW DELHI: Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday urged senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to return correspondences and documents of the country’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru—the father of her mother-in-law and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi—to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML).He asserted that the documents “belong to the country” and “not to any individual.”“We have requested the return of around 57 cartons containing roughly 26,000 documents that were taken from the museum. Sonia Gandhi has said she will look into the matter. Naturally, these ministerial documents cannot be the personal property of any individual. We have written two letters to her, and we once again urge that they be returned,” Shekhawat told news agency PTI.He recalled that in April 2008, on Gandhi’s instructions, her representative MV Rajan wrote a letter stating that she wished to take back all the “private family letters” and notes of the Congress stalwart.The minister elaborated, “Over a 20-year period, from 1970 to 1990, all the non-official documents related to Nehru were brought to the museum. This included personal letters he wrote to people, the replies received, and his personal comments and notes. Similar documents of all the prime ministers are preserved in the museum. There are approximately 2.5 crore such documents, of which 4 lakh relate to Pandit Nehru alone.”While documents of other prime ministers remain the museum’s permanent property, Nehru’s were meant only for “safe custody,” he said, adding that it was therefore decided to return to the family any letters they requested.The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) was established in April 1966, following Nehru’s death in May 1964. In June 2023, its name was changed to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society to recognise all of India’s prime ministers.
