New Delhi, June 7: Statues of prominent Indian figures including Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar, and Chhatrapati Shivaji have been relocated from their original positions within the Parliament premises to a lawn near the old Parliament building. This move, part of a larger landscaping initiative, has sparked sharp criticism from the Congress party.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh expressed his discontent on social media platform 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.”
Congress’s media and publicity department head Pawan Khera also criticized the BJP, suggesting that the relocation was politically motivated. He argued that the decision was a reaction to the BJP’s electoral performance in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The statues of other national icons, including tribal leader Birsa Munda and Maharana Pratap, have also been moved to the lawn between the old Parliament building and the Parliament library. This area has been named Samvidhan Sadan.
The redevelopment project aims to integrate the entire Parliament complex, which includes four different buildings. The relocation of the statues is intended to create a vast lawn in front of the Gaja Dwar entrance, used by the President and Prime Minister for official ceremonies such as the President’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament during the Budget Session.
The Parliament premises are expected to present a new look when the 18th Lok Sabha convenes for its maiden session in June.
