New Delhi: In a major reshuffle, the Centre has removed three dissenting members from the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) society and appointed four new members to oversee the decisions regarding the memorial dedicated to all prime ministers.

The outgoing members had opposed the BJP government's decision to set up a museum for all prime ministers in the Teen Murti complex where NMML is located. 

As per the notification of Ministry of Culture issued on October 29, the new members on the panel are Republic TV founder Arnab Goswami, BJP MP and president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, former foreign secretary S Jaishankar, and journalist Ram Bahadur Rai. The term of the new members will be till April 26, 2020, or till further orders.

The notification also mentions that the resignation of Pratap Bhanu Mehta had been accepted from the membership for the NMML Society.  

Also see: Nehru Museum director Shakti Sinha exposes media lies about institution on prime minister

When MyNation contacted the memorial head Shakti Sinha, he refused to comment citing that the appointments were made by the government and he has nothing to comment upon that. 

Earlier in a detailed interview to MyNation, Sinha had said, “I am baffled by the opposition to it. In fact, it will now be a Nehru plus museum”. 

In 2016, Mehta had quit citing “political pressure” and protested former bureaucrat Shakti Sinha’s candidature as the NMML director. Desai, Singh and Mishra had been critical of the government’s approach towards NMML when it decided to introduce memorabilia of all prime ministers.

But despite opposition from Congress party, the foundation stone for a museum for prime ministers in the Teen Murti Estate premises was laid by Union ministers on October 15.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the government's move could change the "nature and character" of the memorial museum.

The newly appointed members will now oversee decisions concerned with the memorial. In September, the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund was asked to vacate the Teen Murti Bhavan. The fund was established in 1964 and has been at the same place, which was once India’s first prime minister residence. The Delhi High Court, however, stayed the eviction notice on November 1. 

(With agency inputs)