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Congress Demands Restoration of Statues of National Leaders to Original Locations

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Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, June 19: Taking exception to shifting of statues of some national leaders within the Parliament complex without consultations, the Congress has demanded restoring these to their original locations.

The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written letters to the Lok Sabha speaker and the Rajya Sabha chairman protesting against the relocation and demanding their restoration. However, both of them have already made statements appreciating the relocation of the statues at the “Prerana Sthal” as the right move to inspire the people.

The political row over the decision to shift the statues has been simmering for weeks. While there has been no response from the BJP, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has explained the decision in a statement.

“Due to their location at different places in the Parliament Complex, visitors were not able to view these statues conveniently. For this reason, all these statues are being respectfully installed in a grand Prerana Sthal in the Parliament House Complex itself,” the statement read.

Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, who inaugurated Prerana Sthal on Sunday, said the spot is “motivational and inspirational and whoever spends time here will be inspired.” “People get inspiration from such great men…I think that the Prerana Sthal will always inspire the coming generations,” said Om Birla, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Requesting that the statues of national icons — Mahatma Gandhi, Shivaji, BR Ambedkar and others — be returned to their original spots, Mr Kharge said making a decision to relocate the statues without any consultation was “arbitrary” and “unilateral.” The statues have been relocated to Prerana Sthal, a dedicated area at the back of the Parliament Complex. The decision has been strongly criticised by Opposition parties, who are demanding a rollback.

“I wish to emphasise at the very threshold that such removal of these statues arbitrarily, without any consultation, violates the basic spirit of our democracy. Needless to mention the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and other national leaders were situated at prominent locations after due deliberation and consideration. Each statue and its location across the Parliament House complex held immense value and significance. The removal of the statues arbitrarily, without any consultation, violates the basic spirit of our democracy,” Mr Kharge said in his letter sent separately to the Speaker and RS Chairman.

The Congress chief, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, pointed out that there is a dedicated committee for installing portraits and statues of national leaders and MPs in the Parliament House Complex— “Committee on the Installation of Portraits and Statues of National Leaders and Parliamentarians in the Parliament House Complex” but the panel has not been reconstituted since 2019.

“Hence, such decisions made without any proper discussion and deliberation with relevant stakeholders are against the rules and traditions of our Parliament. Therefore, I demand that the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and other national leaders who greatly contributed for the unity and integrity of our nation must be relocated to their original locations with due respect and regard,” he wrote.

The Congress has taken strong objection to the shifting of the statues. The opposition parties have often held protest marches and agitations within the Parliament complex before the statues of Gandhi and Ambedkar.