Amidst political tensions, the renaming of Nehru Memorial Museum & Library sparks clash. Congress and BJP trade views on legacy and respect, while opposition voices unite against the change. Explore the dynamics.
In a recent development, the Opposition, led by the Congress party, and the ruling BJP engaged in a verbal dispute over the renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) Society to the Pradhan Mantri Museum and Library (PMML) Society.
Name Change Takes Effect
The name change for the museum, situated in the Teen Murti complex in the national capital, came into effect on Tuesday. This change happened after a special meeting of the Society held on June 15, where a resolution was passed, and it took two months for this change to become official.
Different Views on the Change
The Congress party and other parties in the opposition criticized this move, calling it small-minded political maneuvering and an attempt to downplay the legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru. The Teen Murti complex was Nehru’s official residence for over twenty years and later became a memorial dedicated to him. On the other hand, Union ministers and the BJP rejected these claims. They defended the name change, stating that it shows respect to all Prime Ministers up to the present day.
Process of Change
A person named A Surya Prakash, who is the vice-chairman of the PMML’s executive council, explained that the name change became effective on August 14. He pointed out that according to the law, if a society wants to change its name, the general body needs to meet twice with a one-month gap. This procedure was followed, with the general body meeting again on July 18 to confirm the name change. The matter was then presented to the Registrar of Societies for formal approval.
Leaders Express their Views
Jairam Ramesh, a Congress leader, criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he saw as an attempt to undermine Nehru’s legacy. He expressed this on Twitter, saying that Modi seemed to focus on discrediting Nehru and the Nehruvian legacy. In response, former Union minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad highlighted a difference in thinking between the Congress and Prime Minister Modi. Prasad argued that Modi had given due respect to all Indian Prime Ministers in the museum, unlike what he saw as the Congress’ narrow focus.
Opinions Continue
Other opposition parties also voiced their criticism of the government’s decision. A leader from the RJD, Manoj Kumar Jha, emphasized that the memory of Jawaharlal Nehru is deeply rooted in the country and cannot be erased. Union minister Ajay Bhatt, however, assured that changing the name wouldn’t lessen Nehru’s respect and that all former Prime Ministers would be equally respected under the new name.
Despite these debates and disputes, Nehru’s legacy is expected to endure and inspire generations in the future.
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