New Delhi: The Government today dismissed Congress’s allegations that it is trying to “privatise” India’s heritage saying that the contract signed with Dalmia Bharat Group giving it access to The Red Fort does not entail any profit-making activity.
Earlier this week, Dalmia Group had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Tourism to adopt the iconic Mughal-era monument for next five years at a cost of Rs 25 crore. As per the agreement, the corporate giant would build basic infrastructure around the monument and maintain it.
“No profit activity will take place,” Union minister Mahesh Sharma clarified.
The minister said that Dalmia Group has been assigned the task of adding value to the services being provided to tourists visiting the 17th-century monument.
Earlier today, the Congress party had slammed the government’s move to “privatise” the Mughal-era monument.
In a question on Twitter, the Congress party had asked- “After handing over the Red Fort to the Dalmia group, which is the next distinguished location that the BJP government will lease out to a private entity?”- and gave four options — Parliament, Lok Kalyan Marg, Supreme Court, and All of the above.
“They are handing over the iconic monument to a private business. What is your commitment to the idea of India, to the history of India? We know you have no commitment, but we still want to ask you,” Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera told reporters here.
“Do you have dearth of funds. Why funds for the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) lapse, why do they lapse. See the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) reports. If they have paucity of funds, then why do they lapse?” he asked.