New Delhi has witnessed the relocation of several statues of prominent historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Birsa Munda, and Maharana Pratap in the name of beautification efforts. This controversial decision by the Lok Sabha Secretariat has even led to the inclusion of Parliament's statues in the 'guidance board', drawing criticism from the opposition.
To facilitate the Prime Minister's entrance to the new Parliament House, a beautification project is underway at the 'yard gate'. As a result, the statues previously situated in this area have been moved to the front of gate number five of the old parliament building. This shift has caused the statues of these great men to be displaced to the side, potentially facing obstruction.
The relocation has brought all the statues, including those of Birsa Munda and Maharana Pratap, to a single location between gate number five of the old Parliament House and the Parliament Library. The old Parliament House, now known as the Constitution House, sees reduced importance as sessions are held in the new building. In an effort to enhance the grandeur of the Parliament premises, statues of national leaders and freedom fighters are being consolidated for better visibility.
This collective display area, named 'Prerna Sthala', aims to showcase the statues in a centralized manner for visitors. The Lok Sabha Secretariat clarified that no statues of great individuals have been removed from the Parliament complex. The statement emphasized that the statues are being relocated within the Parliament building area in a respectful manner.
The decision faced strong criticism from the Congress party, particularly for the removal of statues like those of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Ambedkar. The act was labeled as extremely insensitive by Congress media chief Jairam Ramesh, highlighting the sentiment of Maharashtra voters towards the BJP. National Spokesperson of the BJP, Pawan Khera, also questioned the party's actions in light of the situation.