The Indian History Congress (IHC) today expressed indignation over the Daundia Kheda treasure hunt in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh last September and alleged that instead of preserving the rich archaeological marvels of the country, the ASI is engaged in "abusing" it.
At a general body meeting after the completion of its 74th session here, the IHC in a resolution has called for an enquiry to identify the persons responsible for making Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) complicit in the gold hunt, and to determine the amount of taxpayers' money lost in it.
On the basis of dreams of a local seer that about 1000 tonnes of gold was buried under the palace of a 19th century king, the ASI supervised a digging operation in Uttar Pradesh.
"The long continuation of digging by the ASI at the palace, under the eyes of foreign and Indian media has brought considerable dishonour to the ASI," the IHC resolution said, adding that incidentally, the excavation was "illegal" for the fact that no proposal for it was brought before the standing committee of the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology, which is an essential prerequisite.
"The Dundiakhera fiasco...Would not have happened, if the ASI had a competent DG to give proper advice to the powers concerned," the resolution said, strongly recommending the Government of India to rectify the lapses and return institutions to the stewardship of professionally qualified persons.
The IHC was also equally critical about the interference of bureaucrats in administration of professional institutions undertaking historical and archaeological researches.
In another resolution passed on the day, the IHC condemned the appointment of civil servants to head institutions like ASI, National Archives, Indira Gandhi National Council of Arts and the National Museums.
"It has been noticed that the Government of India consistently fails in taking timely steps to fill up the (posts of) heads of these institutes as and when they fall vacant and instead, civil service officers having no necessary qualifications are appointed to head such institutions," the resolution said, adding that all the four institutions are now in this unenviable position without any convincing reason.
