Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma today said that his ministry has no role in the appointment of the Director of Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) and the position will be filled through the selection process led by the Executive Council.
The position of the director of NMML fell vacant following the resignation in September last year of Mahesh Rangarajan after the ruling BJP alleged that there were some irregularities committed by the previous government in his appointment.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Sharma said, "Appointment cannot be made by any minister or prime minister. This is not a nominated position. There is a defined way of selection and Executive Council is supposed to follow that path through advertisement."
Responding to another question, Sharma said that while it was a "dream" of the people that the Ram Mandir be built, it should come up with the consensus and with the court's order.
"People have a dream that the Ram Mandir be built... But it should be with consensus. The matter is in court," he said.
Asked about a letter by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to direct law officers to seek a day-to-day hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi issue in Supreme Court, he said, "BJP is a democratic party and there could be differences in opinion among the people, but we share the same ideology."
He said that the party's senior leaders have already talked about their ideology and, "if there is any change in it, it would also be informed".
