The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Statues of Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shivaji, and others have been relocated within the Parliament premises as part of a landscaping exercise. This move has been sharply criticized by the Congress, which argues that these statues have been moved from their prominent positions in front of Parliament House.
The statues, including those of tribal leader Birsa Munda and Maharana Pratap, are now situated in a lawn between the old Parliament building and the Parliament library. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh expressed his discontent on X, stating, “Statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar have just been removed from their places of prominence in front of the Parliament House. This is atrocious.”
In response, the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a statement explaining the reason behind the relocation. Due to their previous locations, visitors were not able to conveniently view these statues. “For this reason, all these statues are being respectfully installed in a grand ‘Prerna Sthal’ in the Parliament House premises. This ‘Prerna Sthal’ is being developed so that visitors can view the statues of these great persons conveniently and get inspired by their life experiences,” the statement read.
The Secretariat emphasized that no statue has been removed from the Parliament House complex, but instead, they are being arranged in an orderly and respectful manner. Congress’s media and publicity department head Pawan Khera accused the BJP of relocating the statues as a political maneuver following electoral setbacks in Maharashtra and Gujarat. “Just think, if they had been given 400 seats, would they have spared the Constitution?” Khera remarked in a post on X.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat also mentioned that efforts are being made to provide visitors with detailed information about the lives and contributions of these great figures through modern technology at the ‘Prerna Sthal.’
The Parliament premises will feature a new look when the 18th Lok Sabha convenes for its maiden session in June. The redevelopment includes moving statues of national icons to a lawn near Gate No. 5 of the old Parliament building, named Samvidhan Sadan. This allows for the creation of a large lawn in front of the Gaja Dwar, used by the President and the Prime Minister to enter the new Parliament building.
CPI general secretary D Raja condemned the relocation as contempt for the ideals of freedom, liberty, and equality. “The arbitrary and unilateral decision to shift the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Ambedkar, and Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Parliament House premise is condemnable,” Raja stated on X.
Trinamool Congress MP Jawhar Sircar demanded an explanation from the government, questioning if statues of Nathuram Godse and Narendra Modi were being erected in their place. Working president of NCP-SCP Supriya Sule called the move “infuriating” and noted the significance of the day being the 350th anniversary of Shivaji’s coronation.