. New Delhi: Asserting that “51 cartons of Jawaharlal Nehru papers” were formally taken back by the “family” in 2008 from Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (then Nehru Memorial Museum and Library), culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat lashed out at Congress asking its senior leader Sonia Gandhi “why have these papers not been returned despite multiple reminders from PMML including the recent reminders in January and July this year”.Pointing out that Gandhi herself has acknowledged in writing that these papers are with her and promised to “cooperate” on the matter, Shekhawat sought that Gandhi honour her commitment and return these papers to PMML.Shekhawat’s sharp rebuke came a day after Congress spokesman and senior leader Jairam Ramesh asked “will there be an apology forthcoming” citing the govt’s reply to a question in Lok Sabha that no papers relating to Jawaharlal Nehru were found missing in the annual inspection of PMML.“In reality, 51 cartons of Jawaharlal Nehru papers were formally taken back by the family in 2008 from PMML (then Nehru Memorial Museum and Library). Their location is known. Hence, they are “not missing”,” Shekhawat said in a post on X.“These are not private family papers. They relate to the first Prime Minister of India and form part of our national historical record. Such papers belong in public archives, not behind closed doors,” Shekhawat said in a post on X.The ministry of culture cited a April 29, 2008 letter wherein it was requested that Gandhi wished to take back all of the private family letters and notes of former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru. Accordingly, the papers were sent to Gandhi.“I respectfully ask Sonia Gandhi ji to explain to the country: What is being withheld? What is being hidden?,” Shekhawat asked and said that the “excuses” being given by Sonia for not returning these papers are “not tenable”.“History cannot be curated selectively,” Shekhawat said and added that “transparency is the foundation of democracy and archival openness is its moral obligation which Mrs Gandhi and the “family” need to uphold”.Shekhawat in his reply to Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh’s post said, “The truth placed before the Lok Sabha is clear and on record”. ”The Nehru Papers were taken out in 2008, during the UPA period, when public institutions were often treated as family preserves,” he said.“In fact it would be more appropriate for you to urge Sonia Gandhi to honour her commitment and return these papers to PMML so that scholars, citizens, and the Parliament can access these crucial historical records and the truth of “Nehruvian” times can be examined objectively,” Shekhawat said to Ramesh.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Vande Mataram’ Chants Echo As Indian Diaspora Welcomes PM Modi In Oman’India-Oman FTA To Open Major Opportunities Across Key Sectors’: Commerce Minister Piyush GoyalBangladesh Leader’s Seven Sisters Remark Triggers Diplomatic Row, India Summons Envoy Issues WarningBusiness Leaders See Major Growth Potential In India-Oman Ties As PM Modi Visits Muscat‘Might Never See Him Again’: Imran Khan’s Sons Claim ‘Psychological Torture’ In Pak’s Adiala JailDelhi Pollution: China Shares Playbook On How To Fix Air Quality Amid Politics Over AccountabilityExplained: The ₹30 Crore Film Deal That Led To Bollywood Director Vikram Bhatt And His Wife’s ArrestIndia Strengthens Maritime Dominance As Second MH-60R Squadron Joins Indian Navy At INS HansaViksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill Explained: Education Reform Or A Quiet Erosion Of FederalismNational Herald Case: Kharge Alleges ED Misuse, BJP Strikes Back With ‘Most Corrupt Family’ Dig123PhotostoriesCatching the vibe of the ‘grey’ season: 5 animals that are grey in colourChristmas 2025: How to make moist Eggless Chocolate Cake in a pressure cooker5-minute brain workouts that work: Memory-boosting moves for all agesJohn Abraham birthday special: ‘Dhoom’, ‘Force’, ‘The Diplomat’, films with career-defining roles that made him Bollywood’s ultimate action star to watch on OTT platforms5 upcoming sneaker releases of 2026 that will be worth the hype7 US destinations with Christmas names you never knew existed5 foods to combine with amla during winter season and whyWhat is ‘food noise’ and how it may be impacting your appetite and behavior10 books that ruled google searches in 20257 skin symptoms that may signal uncontrolled diabetes123Hot PicksBomb Threat AhmedabadPark Medi World sharesPunjab election result 2025Gold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays DecemberBank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingLuka DoncicStephen CurryMegan Thee StallionStephen Curry and Ayesha Curry RumorsConnor McDavid Luxury Car CollectionGoverment Job VacanciesBukayo Saka and Tolami Benson Net WorthSSN College AdmissionsFortnite Winterfest Release DateRussell Wilson Wife
New Delhi: Asserting that “51 cartons of Jawaharlal Nehru papers” were formally taken back by the “family” in 2008 from Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (then Nehru Memorial Museum and Library), culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat lashed out at Congress asking its senior leader Sonia Gandhi “why have these papers not been returned despite multiple reminders from PMML including the recent reminders in January and July this year”.Pointing out that Gandhi herself has acknowledged in writing that these papers are with her and promised to “cooperate” on the matter, Shekhawat sought that Gandhi honour her commitment and return these papers to PMML.Shekhawat’s sharp rebuke came a day after Congress spokesman and senior leader Jairam Ramesh asked “will there be an apology forthcoming” citing the govt’s reply to a question in Lok Sabha that no papers relating to Jawaharlal Nehru were found missing in the annual inspection of PMML.“In reality, 51 cartons of Jawaharlal Nehru papers were formally taken back by the family in 2008 from PMML (then Nehru Memorial Museum and Library). Their location is known. Hence, they are “not missing”,” Shekhawat said in a post on X.“These are not private family papers. They relate to the first Prime Minister of India and form part of our national historical record. Such papers belong in public archives, not behind closed doors,” Shekhawat said in a post on X.The ministry of culture cited a April 29, 2008 letter wherein it was requested that Gandhi wished to take back all of the private family letters and notes of former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru. Accordingly, the papers were sent to Gandhi.“I respectfully ask Sonia Gandhi ji to explain to the country: What is being withheld? What is being hidden?,” Shekhawat asked and said that the “excuses” being given by Sonia for not returning these papers are “not tenable”.“History cannot be curated selectively,” Shekhawat said and added that “transparency is the foundation of democracy and archival openness is its moral obligation which Mrs Gandhi and the “family” need to uphold”.Shekhawat in his reply to Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh’s post said, “The truth placed before the Lok Sabha is clear and on record”. ”The Nehru Papers were taken out in 2008, during the UPA period, when public institutions were often treated as family preserves,” he said.“In fact it would be more appropriate for you to urge Sonia Gandhi to honour her commitment and return these papers to PMML so that scholars, citizens, and the Parliament can access these crucial historical records and the truth of “Nehruvian” times can be examined objectively,” Shekhawat said to Ramesh.
