- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: Minister of Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, informed the Lok Sabha on Monday that no historically significant artefacts, including belongings of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, are being stored at the Parliament Street Police Station in Delhi.
In response to a question raised by Congress MP Manish Tewari, Shekhawat clarified that the government is not responsible for the care or return of such items to the families of the freedom fighters. He explained that any items related to case properties are handed over as per court orders or the disposal guidelines of law enforcement agencies, and no survey has been conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regarding these objects.
Shekhawat further emphasized that items received by the ASI are kept in the Central Antiquity Collection in New Delhi. Some are displayed in museums and the Confiscated and Retrieved Antiquities Gallery for the public to view.
The Minister denied claims that valuable items belonging to Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were stored at the Maalkhana of the Parliament Street Police Station, stating that, according to Delhi Police records, no such artefacts are present.
Additionally, Shekhawat addressed another question regarding the Government’s efforts to protect and promote regional culture, revealing that the Government has established seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) across India to preserve and promote local and folk art forms. These centres are located in Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur, and Thanjavur. He also mentioned that significant funds have been allocated for these centres, including Rs 54.06 crore for the Prayagraj centre during 2023-24.
