Sidhu cancels purchase of duplicate Sikh coins

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 25

Taking cognisance of The Tribune report on the government move to buy duplicate coins related to the Sikh history at inflated rates to display these at Gobindgarh Fort, Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today said he had cancelled the previous government’s decision and would get the matter legally examined.

The Tribune had highlighted that despite the availability of original coins at half the price, the government has paid lakhs of rupees to a private firm for minting duplicate ones. These coins were to be displayed at an upcoming Sikh coins museum at the fort. It was also reported that a large collection of original Sikh coins is gathering dust in various state museums.

Talking to The Tribune, Sidhu said it was a matter of Punjab’s history and pride. “The public comes to museums to witness historical artifacts. Placing duplicates not only amounts to deceiving the visitors, but also misleading them,” he said.

He said he had told the department officials to cancel the order. “Even the matter needs to be examined legally, if duplicate coins can be produced or not,” he said.