Statues such as Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar and Chhatrapati Shivaji among others have been moved out of their original place in the Parliament premises to a lawn next to the old building as part of beautification project which was criticized by Congress on 6th June.
All statues including those of Birsa Munda and Maharana Pratap stand in one place, the lawn between old Parliament building and Parliament library today.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said this on X: “Mahatma Gandhi statue was removed from its commanding position at the entrance to parliament house. Unbelievable!” In another development, Congress head of media and publicity Pawan Khera accused the BJP for removing the Shivaji and Ambedkar statues when Maharashtra voters failed to vote for BJP.
They took down the statue of Mahatma Gandhi from its original location in parliament only after failing to sweep clean Gujarat.” He added
“If they were given 400 seats think whether they would spare constitution,” Mr. Khera wrote on X.
The entire complex made up of four different buildings is currently being integrated ahead of the maiden sitting of 18th Lok Sabha scheduled for June which will transform it into a new look.
Samvidhan Sadan, located near Gate No.5 outside old Parliament House has been set aside as a new home where national icons such as Gandhi’s, Shivaji’s as well as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule’s statues were supposed to be shifted to as part of redevelopment process in external areas.
Thus, there will be ample space created for big lawns facing Gaja Dwar used by President and Prime Minister while entering into new Parliament building through a grand staircase with lions on both sides.
Such official events include President addressing joint session during budget session mostly held on that very lawn.
