Eleven monuments to be provided special security cover

New Delhi, Jun 6 (UNI) The government has selected eleven 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.

A Culture Ministry official 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.

The Home Ministry has made a budgetary provision of Rs 24.91 crore for the security of these monuments and sites.

The official said the Home Ministry had been issuing necessary advisories for strengthening security of religious sites and places to all states and Union Territories from time to time, depending upon the threat perception.

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

Pointing out that 'law and order' and 'police' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the official said the security of religious sites and places was the responsibility of the state government/UT Administration concerned.

UNI