Twitter reacts to Modi govt 'auctioning off' Red Fort as Centre denies charge

Ministry of State (MoS) for Culture Mahesh Sharma on Saturday rubbished allegations that the historical Red Fort was ‘auctioned off’ by the Centre, and said that the monument was adopted by Dalmia Bharat Group to render value addition services to it as part of the Centre’s scheme.

‘The President announced a scheme of Government of India on World Tourism Day 2017, on 27th September, that those interested in value addition to any services of the monuments can come forward. A lot of organisations came forward and some services of Red Fort have been given to Dalmia Group,’ Sharma told ANI, adding that no profit activity would take place

Sharma said that other monuments have also been adopted by various organisations under the said scheme.

‘This was done on 27 September 2017, so I don’t know why people are raising their fingers now. If they have any queries, they can ask,’ he added.

The scheme ‘Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’ was launched to preserve the rich cultural and natural heritage and to promote tourism across the country. Under the project, corporates and citizens were encouraged to adopt heritage sites for creation, operation and maintenance of basic and advanced amenities at tourist destinations.

Dalmia Bharat was one of the agencies to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Government to adopt a monument as part of the project.

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? #IndiaSpeaks

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 28, 2018

Red Fort has been leased out to Dalmia Group (DG) for maintenance, beautification etc. It’s a good model to keep historic sites healthy but what’s troubling is 2 specific clauses.

1. DG won’t be held responsible for any destruction.
2. DG is allowed to put hoardings all over. pic.twitter.com/awqHczhYqU

— Jas Oberoi (@iJasOberoi) April 28, 2018

Seeing corporate sector as evil (and still using their products) is one of India’s major mindset problems. Govt-private partnerships like Red Fort clean up should be encouraged. Saves us money. Gives corporate CSR. And no Mr Dalmia is going to live like a king in Red Fort!

— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) April 28, 2018

If you hire someone to clean your house doesn’t mean you are selling your house to them. No, Red Fort is not being sold. It’s an innovative way to save the government some money and preserve a monument. #redfort

— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) April 28, 2018

There must be better ways of maintaining a nation's greatest monuments than by auctioning them off to a corporate househttps://t.co/uO66Rr4Hu1

— William Dalrymple (@DalrympleWill) April 27, 2018

Is this happening for real???!!!
This is what it has come to ???? I don’t even want to start with who to blame for this!
https://t.co/9q8DEPHFIx

— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) April 27, 2018

Shah Jahan's iconic Red Fort in Delhi is now Dalmia Bharat group's Red Fort https://t.co/QIRSZX7Ig9

— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 27, 2018

How Outrage is manufactured without knowing details - this time on successful initiative by Ministry of Tourism - Adopt a Heritage Site Scheme https://t.co/JbRZb3d7ls

— Vijay (@centerofright) April 28, 2018

Stop Privatising India’s Heritage: The Parliamentary Committee that went into the issue of handing over heritage sites to private corporate had decided against this unanimously. Govt should reverse its decision of privatising the Red Fort https://t.co/ymvZcawLdA

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) April 28, 2018

Don't understand fuss over Maintenance Contract given to Dalmia Group for Red Fort. It's a Maintenance Contract NOT a Lease agreement. It does not give them any rights over Red Fort.Ridiculous to say Govt is selling Red Fort.Pvt. Companies can surely do a better maintenance job

— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) April 28, 2018

Tourism ministry has clarified that the MoU signed for 'Red Fort 'is ‘only’ for the development, operations and maintenance of tourism amenities in and around Red Fort. It envisages limited ‘access’ of non- core areas and ‘no handing over of monument’ is involved.

— Akhilesh Sharma (@akhileshsharma1) April 28, 2018

Jantar Mantar has been 'adopted' by Park hotel since long. Humayun tomb too. Where's the basis for this sudden shock about Red Fort?

— rama lakshmi (@RamaNewDelhi) April 28, 2018

Taapsee read the article first,
Red fort is not sold to Dalmia group , instead Dalmia Cement group has adopted The monument for repair and maintenance for 5 year period https://t.co/JhaBvgYIoX

— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) April 28, 2018

This outrage over Red Fort being taken over by Dalmia group is clearly misleading and mischievous. It is a neat initiative by the Ministry of Tourism, and must be lauded instead of being converted into this rather pathetic controversy.

— Vaibhav Vishal (@ofnosurnamefame) April 28, 2018

Today it is Dalmia Red Fort. Tomorrow it may be Patanjali Taj Mahal. Brave new world.

— deep halder (@daipayanhalder) April 28, 2018

A great example of click-bait headline sparking outrage. It won’t be renamed Dalmia Bharat Red Fort! If managed well, corporate involvement in India’s heritage would be a good move. & hopefully attract many more tourists. https://t.co/AZkqpJWeea pic.twitter.com/4S36vE4agw

— Rohit Pradhan (@Retributions) April 28, 2018