Inauguration of the National War Memorial (NWM) which was scheduled for January 25 has been postponed as construction work is still incomplete, officials sources confirmed. Some officials said it was also to avoid any protocol issues and any unnecessary controversy arising out of it.
“The inauguration has been postponed as work on one part of the memorial is still incomplete. It is now likely to happen in mid-February,” a defence official said on Tuesday on condition of anonymity.
Preparations were on in full swing for the formal inauguration of the memorial and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed the progress at the site couple of weeks back.
However, it was decided to postpone it till the memorial is fully ready and not throw it open to public still incomplete.
The file has now gone to the Prime Minister’s Office on the future date and is likely to happen in mid-February, another official said.
The NWM is being constructed near India Gate and the National War Museum at Princes Park Complex Gate in memory of about 22,500 soldiers who laid down their lives for the country in the post-independence period.
Another official said that the delay is also to avoid protocol issues and needless controversy that may arise as a result.
The Amar Jawan Jyoti (AJJ) at India gate which represents the ‘unknown soldier’ is currently accorded guard of honour on important occasions to pay homage to the soldiers who sacrificed their life in service of the nation. But once NWM is open, the guard of honour would have to be done there as it is the memorial for soldiers post-Independence.
On the contrary, India Gate is a pre-Independence memorial built to honour the soldiers who laid down lives during the World Wars. There has been question if the AJJ will be shifted from India Gate to the NWM. Several officials said that protocols on how to proceed with wreath laying and guard of honour is yet to be finalised.
“There is likely to be another Amar Jawan Jyoti at the NWM where the guard of honour will be given. At India Gate it will be based on request if someone wants to pay homage there,” another official with knowledge of the matter said.
The Union Cabinet accorded approval for the project on October 7, 2015 with a tentative timeframe of five years for completion of the project. According to a written reply in the Parliament by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in 2017, the estimated cost of the project was ₹500 crore including ₹50 crore for the NWM.
