The issue surfaced after BJP MP Sambit Patra raised a written question in the Lok Sabha, asking whether documents related to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru were found missing during the annual inspection of the NMML in 2025.
Union minister targets congress over Nehru papers
New Delhi: A fresh political confrontation has erupted during the winter session of Parliament over the Nehru Papers, with the central government targeting the Congress and Sonia Gandhi over 51 cartons of documents linked to the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML). While the government has questioned why the papers have not been returned to public archives, the Congress has demanded an apology, accusing the BJP of misleading Parliament.
How the Controversy Began
The issue surfaced after BJP MP Sambit Patra raised a written question in the Lok Sabha, asking whether documents related to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru were found missing during the annual inspection of the NMML in 2025.
Reacting to this, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted on social media, accusing BJP MPs of selectively using publicly available material to attack Nehru. He said that most documents cited by the BJP are already in the public domain, particularly the 100 volumes of Nehru’s Selected Works (1903–1964).
Government Clarifies, Congress Seeks Apology
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the government clarified that no Nehru-related documents were found missing during the NMML inspection. Following this clarification, Jairam Ramesh demanded an apology from the government, stating, “Finally, the truth has come out in the Lok Sabha.”
Culture Minister’s Counter-Attack
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat hit back, stating that the real issue is not missing documents, but the non-return of 51 cartons of Nehru’s private papers to public archives.
He said these documents were returned to the Gandhi family in 2008 during the UPA government through due process and that a complete catalogue of the papers is still preserved. Shekhawat emphasized that as India’s first Prime Minister, Nehru’s papers are national heritage, not private property.
“These documents belong in public archives so that scholars, researchers, students, and citizens can study the Nehru era in a transparent and impartial manner,” the minister said.
Shekhawat also urged Jairam Ramesh to request Sonia Gandhi to honour her written assurance and return the papers to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML). He revealed that multiple formal letters and reminders were sent to Sonia Gandhi in January and July 2025.
What Are the Nehru Papers?
The Nehru Papers include letters, diaries, notes, and personal correspondence offering insights into Jawaharlal Nehru’s private thoughts and key moments in India’s history.
According to records, the Gandhi family holds at least 51 cartons of such documents, including correspondence with:
These private papers often contain critical records related to the freedom struggle, negotiations with the British and Chinese, and key policy decisions during Nehru’s tenure as Prime Minister.
Background of the Papers
Reports suggest that Indira Gandhi donated Nehru’s papers after 1971, and Sonia Gandhi added more documents after Indira Gandhi’s assassination. However, in 2008, Sonia Gandhi reportedly withdrew several papers and restricted access to some of them, triggering the current controversy.
