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Nehru museum okays director’s resignation

Author: Akshaya Mukul,TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: September 18, 2015
URL:   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Nehru-museum-okays-directors-resignation/articleshow/49005915.cms

The Executive Council of Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) on Thursday accepted the resignation of director Mahesh Rangarajan after he submitted it again. EC chairperson Lokesh Chandra circulated the resignation among members, most of whom felt that it should be accepted as Rangarajan remained insistent.

Sources said joint secretary in the culture ministry in-charge of NMML will be made officiating director.

 Though DU and Oxford-educated Rangarajan, also a reputed environmental historian, cited family commitments for his resignation, it comes on the back of public statements by culture minister Mahesh Sharma last week seeking legal opinion on his appointment till the age of 60 years, three days after Lok Sabha results were declared.

 A member of NMML society said, "RSS had been eyeing NMML for long. Continuation of Rangarajan was discussed during recent interaction between government and RSS. It was decided that since there is problem with his appointment, it can be cited as a reason. Sonia Gandhi's charge that government is diluting NMML's focus came in handy for the government to show that UPA was not ethical about appointment. This brought pressure on Rangarajan."

 Another member of NMML society said, "Government has plans not only to take focus away from Jawaharlal Nehru, the idea is also to turn it into some kind of a think tank. Now that the culture ministry will be running the show, there will be major changes in the NMML."

 A sources in NMML said, "Rangarajan had made up his mind to resign last week. His friends tried to convince him but he is believed to have said that he does not want to continue with a marred reputation."

 On Tuesday, when the EC met, Rangarajan cited personal reasons - an unwell mother - to leave NMML. But EC, as reported by TOI, reposed faith in him and even passed a resolution asking him to reconsider his resignation. EC member A Surya Prakash had told TOI that Rangarajan had done excellent work and his resignation is "unacceptable". Rangarajan had quit his job in Delhi University to take up the NMML post.

 Sharma denied that the culture ministry had put any pressure on Rangarajan, but stressed that norms were "thrown to the winds".

 The culture ministry swung into action after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi alleged that the prestigious institute was being saffronised. Sources said apart from legal opinion, even the Election Commission's views were sought again. Last year, a proposal for Rangarajan's absorption in NMML was processed when the general elections were under way. The Election Commission had told the culture ministry to defer the proposal till the poll process was over.

    
Rangarajan's appointment till the age of 60 was finalized three days after the results came out, raising eyebrows in certain quarters. When the Election Commission's view was sought again, it is believed to have said that Rangarajan's appointment was not in order, sources said.
 
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