Restore statues of leaders to their original position in Parliament complex: Kharge
The Congress president has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman emphasising on the issue
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman that the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and other national leaders that were relocated and placed at the newly inaugurated Prerna Sthal inside the Parliament complex should be restored to their original place.
Mr. Kharge, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, asserted that relocating the statues “artbitrarily” violated the spirit of democracy.
“Such removal of these statues arbitrarily, without any consultation, violates the basic spirit of our democracy. Needless to mention that 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,” he said in his letter.
‘Panel not reconstituted’
The Congress chief pointed out that a dedicated committee, that deals with installing portraits and statues of national leaders and MPs in the Parliament House Complex, had 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 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,” Mr. Kharge wrote.
Several leaders had expressed their strong reservation against the relocation of the statues as the Opposition parties often held protest marches and agitations within the Parliament complex before the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
On June 16, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the Prerna Sthal, where the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar have been placed along with other national icons. The Opposition parties, however, had given the event a miss.
- Telegram
SEE ALL
PRINT
Indian National Congress
/
Lok Sabha