New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the government’s decision to rename the Nehru Museum as the Prime Minister’s Museum. He pointed out that Nehru is remembered not just for his name but for his contributions. Rahul Gandhi’s remarks followed a verbal exchange between the BJP and Congress on this topic. The Congress highlighted the change from “N to P” as an example of BJP’s small-mindedness, while the BJP dismissed it as mere lamentation.
Starting August 14, the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library has been formally renamed as the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library Society. The Culture Ministry explained that the new museum experience begins at the revamped Nehru Museum building, which now boasts technologically advanced displays showcasing Jawaharlal Nehru’s life and contributions.
Moving on to a new building, the museum then unfolds the narrative of how various Prime Ministers guided the nation through challenges and promoted comprehensive national progress. This approach acknowledges all Prime Ministers, making the institutional memory more democratic.
Numerous opposition leaders strongly criticized this move. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter, asserting that Prime Minister Modi seems to have personal insecurities regarding India’s first Prime Minister. He accused Modi of trying to deny, distort, defame, and dismantle Nehru’s legacy.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor suggested that the name “Nehru Memorial Prime Ministers Museum and Library” would have been a more suitable continuation.
On the other hand, the BJP stated that this change allows for a broader focus on all Prime Ministers, moving away from a sole emphasis on Nehru. It also highlighted that none of the previous Prime Ministers had dedicated space before this renaming.
