GoM recommends war memorial be set up at India Gate complex

The panel headed by Defence Minister A K Antony also recommended establishment of a National War Museum at the Princess Park complex near India Gate, a Defence Ministry spokesperson said here.

"The GoM recommended the setting up of the war memorial to the government and a final decision in this regard would be taken by the Union Cabinet," he said.

The spokesperson said the three Services would now prepare an integrated masterplan for the construction of the war memorial and the war museum. India Gate is a memorial for soldiers killed in action during the First World War.

The armed forces have been demanding the setting up of the war memorial where the names of the martyrs will be engraved.

The setting up of the war memorial at the India Gate complex was being opposed by the Urban Development Ministry which has now agreed to the proposal.

The three services have been demanding a war memorial in the capital to honour their men who made supreme sacrifice in various wars, conflicts and militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast.

In view of the demand of the armed forces, the government had set up the GoM in 2009 which was headed by Pranab Mukherjee before he became the President.

The Urban Development Ministry and the Delhi Urban Art Commission had objected to the memorial, saying it would spoil the ambiance at India Gate.

The GoM, which met today at the South Block office of Antony, included Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, Minister of State for Finance Namonarain Meena, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma.