Modi inaugurates museum dedicated to former PMs

New Delhi, April 14

Every government formed after Independence has contributed in taking India to the heights that it has achieved today, PM Narendra Modi said on Thursday while asserting that barring one or two exceptions, the country has a proud tradition of strengthening democracy.

Charkha gifted to Shastri among exhibits

New Delhi: A ‘charkha’ given to late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri by his father-in-law in dowry is among the items being displayed at the ‘Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya’ inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Teen Murti Bhavan complex on Thursday. TNS

Though Modi did not elaborate, it is believed that he was referring to Indira Gandhi who, as Prime Minister, suspended civil rights with the imposition of the Emergency in 1975. Inaugurating “Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya” (Prime Ministers’ Museum) dedicated to all previous PMs, Modi, however, said every PM contributed immensely to the fulfillment of the goals of constitutional democracy.

The museum project has been mired in controversy right from its inception in 2018 as a number of scholars and activists expressed apprehension that the Congress PMrs, especially those from the Nehru-Gandhi family, might not be given the recognition that is due to them in the proposed museum. A quick tour of the museum, however, showed that the organisers had tried to maintain a balance. While the imposition of Emergency by Indira has found mention in the section dedicated to her, the victory of India against Pakistan in the 1971 war under her leadership also has been given a good display. —