Modi Govt Tried To Weaken 2010 Act Passed To Protect Monuments, Archaeological Sites: Congress

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the NMA has so far introduced in both Houses of Parliament a total of eight heritage regulations covering 34 centrally protected sites.

The Congress said on Sunday that the Modi administration attempted to "weaken" a 2010 legislation intended to safeguard monuments and archaeological sites, but that its persistent opposition, along with that of other parties, stopped this from occurring so far, news agency PTI reported. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X about the National Monuments Authority (NMA) releasing draught heritage bylaws for one more centrally protected monument in Bihar - the rumoured site of the Palace of Asoka in the state capital - for conservation and periphery development. He proclaimed it to be wonderful news.

Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Ramesh said: "The National Monuments Authority (NMA) was set up soon after Parliament passed the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act in March 2010."  This was a huge step forward for the protection of "our cultural heritage that is under constant threat", he said.

He said that the NMA has so far introduced in both Houses of Parliament a total of eight heritage regulations covering 34 centrally protected sites. "The draft heritage bye-laws for the famed 80-pillared hall and other structures dating back to the time of at least Ashoka at Kumrahar, a suburb of Patna, have now been released for public consultations. This is great news," Ramesh said.

"But it needs to be said that the Modi government has tried to weaken the 2010 Act. It is the determined resistance of the Congress and other parties that has prevented this from happening so far. I have also been highlighting the need to vastly strengthen the NMA and maintain its professional character," Ramesh said. 

Earlier, the National Monuments Authority (NMA) has published draught heritage bye-laws for one additional centrally protected monument in Bihar, the rumoured location of the Palace of Asoka in the state capital, for conservation and surrounding development.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has preserved the alleged location of Asoka's Palace in Patna's Kumrahar region. Kumhrar is the Patna neighbourhood where the ruins of Patliputra were discovered.