No Historical Artefacts of Freedom Fighters Bhagat Singh and Dutt Found at Delhi Police Station: Shekhawat
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Synopsis
On March 17, Parliament was informed that no historically important items, including those of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, are held at the Delhi Police's Parliament Street Police Station. Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat clarified the government's role regarding these artefacts.
Key Takeaways
- No artefacts from Bhagat Singh and Dutt are at the police station.
- The government does not manage or return such items to families.
- No survey by the Archaeological Survey of India has taken place.
- Items are securely stored at the Central Antiquity Collection.
- Seven Zonal Cultural Centres have been established to promote local art.
New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) No historically significant artefacts, including the belongings of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, are currently located in the strongroom of the Delhi Police’s Parliament Street Police Station, as confirmed in Parliament on Monday.
The Minister of Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, responded to inquiries from Manish Tewari of the Congress, explaining that the Government does not oversee the maintenance or restitution of such items to the families of the freedom fighters.
“No survey has been conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India regarding these items, as possessions from case properties are released in accordance with court orders or the disposal protocols of law enforcement agencies,” he stated when asked whether the government had taken measures for the proper conservation, documentation, and public exhibition of these historic items.
Shekhawat added, “Items received by the ASI are stored securely at the Central Antiquity Collection, ASI, New Delhi. Some artefacts are on display in museums and the Confiscated and Retrieved Antiquities Gallery for public viewing.”
The Minister also refuted claims made by the member that valuable possessions of the two freedom fighters were being stored at the Parliament Street Police Station.
“According to records from the Delhi Police, no such historically significant artefacts, including belongings of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, along with other valuable items, are present in the Maalkhana of the Parliament Street Police Station,” he confirmed.
In reply to another question, the Minister mentioned, “The Government of India has established seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) across the country, headquartered in Patiala (Punjab), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Udaipur (Rajasthan), Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Kolkata (West Bengal), Dimapur (Nagaland), and Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu) to safeguard, promote and preserve diverse forms of folk, tribal, and local art and culture in the nation, including that of Tamil Nadu.
“The aim behind the establishment of these ZCCs is to culturally unite the nation while respecting the uniqueness of each region,” he noted, revealing that the highest allocation of Rs 54.06 crore was released during 2023-24 for the centre in Prayagraj.
Following this centre, the second highest funding was allocated to the Kolkata-based centre, amounting to Rs 28.99 crore.
Additionally, the south zone ZCC located in Tanjavur was granted Rs 889 crore for the year 2023-24, the Minister stated.
