‘Of 40 artefacts, 32 from TN to be brought back’

During the Question Hour, Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said in the last five years, the government brought back 33 artefacts.

The Union Minister said of the 40 artefacts that are to be brought back, 16 are from Singapore and Australia each. He said there are 39,000 registered artefacts in the country and this is a continuous process.

DMK MP Kanimozhi said Tamil Nadu has a rich collection of artefacts, especially idols in temples and asked whether the government is taking steps to register them. Does the government have any records of these artefacts, she asked.

Responding to her question, the Union Minister said temples come under trusts and the state is in a better position to take data from them.

Referring to 40 artefacts that are being brought back, Patel said 32 are from Tamil Nadu.

He said there is no data with the Archaeological Survey of India on artefacts/jewels that are still held in museums of foreign countries and ASI is trying to get them back.