Report of Swapan Dasgupta as Nehru Memorial Head Sparks Debate

Indian journalist Swapan Dasgupta is likely to be appointed Director of the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) in New Delhi, according to a report in The Indian Express report.

At present, Dasgupta is a member of the NMML Society presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When The Indian Express reached out to him for a comment on his appointment, Dasgupta is reported to have said “I don’t know”.

Official sources have said that if Dasgupta is appointed director, he will enjoy the status of a Minister of State.

The government is in the process of upgrading the status of the Director of NMML as part of its effort to make relevant the life and works of Jawaharlal Nehru.

An official to The Indian Express

However, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma has declined to confirm or deny the appointment.

Mahesh Rangarajan who was appointed NMML Director by the previous government stepped down in September 2015, after Sharma had said his appointment was “unethical and illegal”.

Even though an official confirmation is awaited, Dasgupta’s reported appointment as NMML Director has sparked some debate.

Congrats in order for @swapan55 as he is slated to get MoS rank, but amused that it will be as head of Nehru memorial!

— swati chaturvedi (@bainjal) January 13, 2016

Interesting that @swapan55 will be an inheritor of the Nehruvian Liberal tradition. https://t.co/yVvHY7GcQK

— SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) January 13, 2016

Yay! @swapan55 to get another lucrative sinecure after L&T job! https://t.co/u7Km54LvhJ This govt also does all right by its own, like Cong!

— Shantanu (@shantanub) January 13, 2016

Modi's come up with the ultimate insult to Nehru - @swapan55 https://t.co/sTak63sKp3

— Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) January 13, 2016

How does the Nehru centre appt work - Swapan will be kicked out on day 1 after 2019? What kind of petty win is this ?

— Reality Check India (@realitycheckind) January 13, 2016