Unfazed by the controversies surrounding him, Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has maintained that he will go about his work and this time it will involve looking at ‘’effectively utilising the powerful organisation” of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
Insisting that unveiling “new programmes” was the need of the hour, Sharma, however, said currently there was no proposal to bring a cultural policy. “The attempt is surely towards nurturing, propagating and preserving our traditions,” he told The Pioneer.
Though in the eye of a storm for his advocacy to introduce Gita and Ramayana in school textbooks and the recent resignation of Director of Nehru Memorial Museum and library (NMMl), Sharma is readying for making “changes” in line with “country’s tradition and culture”. Sharma, a first-time MP from Gautam Buddha Nagar, UP and entrusted with the task of looking after Modi’s constituency Varanasi, has, of late, been increasingly giving voice to the issues considered ideologically close to the RSS.
Asked whether there would be a shift in the “school of thought” from the previous UPA dispensation, the Minister replied that a change of Government and change of power “bring in new people with their own ideology” and there was nothing wrong in ushering in new changes.
“But it is a democratic process. It is not that I have something in mind and I start using from tomorrow. There is a process, I will discuss it with my Ministers, Ministry, then it would go to Cabinet and Prime Minster will do it,” Sharma clarified. On IGNCA, which was headed by Sonia Gandhi since 1991 before she resigned as the BJP came to power last year, the Minister said the organisation was not properly utlilised and its activities need to be re-visited and reviewed.
“It is true that IGNCA’s strength is not utilised, we are in process of utilising maximum out of this powerful and effective organisation. It has 24 acres of land, but the purpose for which it was designed is not properly used. It needs to be seen with different perspective. We have proposals under considerations and would unveil soon”, he said.