Arnab Goswami made member of Nehru Memorial Museum by Modi Govt.

November 3: The Narendra Modi government at the centre has surprised all by choosing journalist Arnab Goswami among the four new members of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) society. The new appointees have replaced eminent personalities like academic Pratap Bhanu Mehta and economist Nitin Desai, who had strongly opposed the Centre’s move to set up a Museum for Prime Ministers within the Teen Murti premises just a few months ago. The new members will hold the responsibilities from October 29, 2018, to April 26, 2020, said a notification issued by the Ministry of Culture.

It has been alleged that Arnab Goswami has been ‘rewarded for loyalty’ to the BJP government. Goswami is former editor-in-chief of Times Now and ET Now, and co-founded Republic TV with businessman-politician Rajeev Chandrashekhar.

Desai had opposed the idea of a new museum for all PMs at Teen Murti Bhawan, stating that ‘NMML was established for the very fine purpose of academic excellence and should preserve its character.’ The sacked three members are known to be Nehru loyalists and had been critical of the government’s decision to build any memorial to other Prime Minister at Teen Murthi Estate. Nitin Desai and BP Singh had openly stated their displeasure with the museum for all PMs taking shape in NMML.

In September, the Sonia Gandhi led Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund was asked to vacate the Teen Murti Complex. The ministry of housing and urban affairs had stated in its letter that the JNMF is occupying the premises without any authority of law and the NMML needs the space.

Urging Modi to leave the Teen Murti Complex, which houses the NMML, “undisturbed”, former P.M., Dr. Manmohan Singh said the present museum respected both history and heritage. Senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Jairam Ramesh, who are members of the NMML society, along with historians had also opposed the move.

The new museum which will include memorabilia of prime ministers, Lal Bahadur Shastri onwards, will come up on a plot of land within the Teen Murti Estate and is expected to cost Rs. 270 crore.