Eleven monuments to be provided special security cover

New Delhi, Dec 5 (UNI) The government today said it had selected 11 monuments and places of religious importance, including the Ram Janma Bhoomi/Babri Masjid complex, Ayodhya, the Taj Mahal, Agra, Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad and Rumtek Monastery, Gangtok for providing special security cover to them.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said the other places and monuments were National Museum, New Delhi; Khajuraho; Sanchi; Rajghat; Kashi Vishwanath temple and Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi; the Red Fort in Agra and Delhi; and Krishna Janma Bhoomi and Shahi Idgah Masjid complex in Mathura.

She said the Home Ministry had made a budgetary provision of Rs 24.91 crore for the security of these monuments.

The minister said the Home Ministry issues necessary advisories for strengthening security of religious sites and places to all State and UT from time to time depending upon the threat perception.

''However, if any State/UT approaches the Union Government for assistance to provide security cover to the religious places, the same is considered by taking into account intelligence inputs received from the concerned agencies,'' she pointed out.

Replying to another query, Ms Soni said 'law and order' and 'police' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

''Therefore, the security of religious sites and places is the responsibility of the state government/UT Administration concerned.'' UNI SKS YA DS1410