Nagpur, May 8: The Maharashtra government has given C-grade tourism status to Smruti Mandir situated at the right-wing organisation’s headquarters in east Nagpur. The Smruti Mandir is a memorial of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.

According to a report published in Hindustan Times, The district collector recently issued a notification in this regard. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and the district planning committee made a recommendation to grant the tourism status to Smruti Mandir.

Nagpur BJP vice-president Bhushan Dawde had demanded that the Reshimbagh Smruti Mandir to be upgraded as a tourist place by the government about a year ago, reported Hindustan Times. The district planning committee accepted the proposal and  sent it to the collector for due consideration.

A sum of Rs 3 crore has also been allocated for the developmental work at the Smruti Bhavan and the Balasaheb Deoras Path Triveni Smarak at Gandhibagh in its 2017-18 budget. The MTDC had included Smruti Mandir in the “Nagpur Darshan” list. The decision to include it into the list was taken as a large number of people who visit its premises during the various festivals predominantly for Vijaydashmi celebrations.

Dr Hedgewar founded the RSS along with four others at Mahal in 1925. Hedgewar died on June 21, 1940. His last rites were performed at Reshimbagh.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 08, 2018 07:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).