Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress party has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha chairman, requesting the return of statues of national icons such as Mahatma Gandhi, Shivaji, and BR Ambedkar to their original locations.
These statues were recently relocated to Prerna Sthal, a designated area at the back of the Parliament Complex. The move has sparked criticism from opposition parties, who are calling for a reversal of the decision.
Kharge, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, the day Prerna Sthal was inaugurated, highlighted that the committee responsible for such decisions, which includes members from both Houses, has not been reconstituted since 2019. He emphasized today that making this decision without consultation is “arbitrary” and “unilateral,” arguing that it “violates the basic spirit of our democracy.”
What Mallikarjun Kharge wrote
“Sharing the text of my letters to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Speaker of the Lok Sabha on the relocation of statues of major leaders in the Parliament House complex.
I am writing this letter in the context of relocation of statues of major leaders in the Parliament House complex. The statues of many great leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, have been removed from their prominent places in the Parliament House Complex and relocated to a separate corner.
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 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.
The statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a meditative posture originally installed on 2nd October 1993 in front of the old Parliament Building held immense significance for India’s democratic polity. Over the decades, this space had assumed sacrosanct value. Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as visitors paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi imbibing within themselves the spirit of the Mahatma. It is at this place that Members sought to voice concerns of the people in a democratic manner to draw the attention of the government seeking due redressal.
Sharing the text of my letters to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Speaker of the Lok Sabha on the relocation of statues of major leaders in the Parliament House complex.
I am writing this letter in the context of relocation of statues of major leaders in the Parliament House… pic.twitter.com/yf26TUGoLs
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 19, 2024
In this context, I would also wish to draw your attention in regard to the statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar which was installed on 2nd April 1967 in the Parliament House precincts. The placement of Babasaheb’s statue facilitated seamless movement of people paying their tributes to him on his birth and death anniversaries. The location of the statue had also proved to be quite convenient vis-à-vis general public’s movement and security concerns. The vantage point at which the statue was installed as well as the posture of the statue held great significance.
The message which the statue of Babasaheb sought to convey was to extol the generations of parliamentarians to steadfastly hold on to values and principles enshrined in the Constitution of India. Incidentally, during my student days in mid-1960s, I was at the forefront of demanding installation of the statue in the precincts of the Parliament House. Such concerted efforts eventually resulted in installing of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue at the place where it was hitherto before placed.
I am constrained to state this with anguish that all this has now been brought to a naught in an arbitrary and unilateral manner.
It would not be out of place to mention here that, as your goodself would be well aware, there is a dedicated Committee for installing portraits and statues of national leaders and MPs in the Parliament House Complex, which is, “Committee on the Installation of Portraits and Statues of National Leaders and Parliamentarians in the Parliament House Complex”. This committee comprises MPs from both Houses of Parliament. However, the committee lamentably has not been reconstituted since 2019.
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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.”
What Lok Sabha secretariat said
The controversy over relocating the statues has been ongoing for weeks. While there has been no direct response from the BJP, the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a statement explaining the rationale behind the decision.
According to the statement, the statues were moved to a single location because their previous positions around the Parliament Complex made them inconvenient for visitors to view collectively. The new Prerna Sthal in the Parliament House Complex is intended to display the statues respectfully and cohesively.
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, who inaugurated Prerna Sthal, described the spot as “motivational and inspirational,” suggesting that visitors who spend time there will feel inspired. Om Birla, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, echoed this sentiment, noting that the Prerna Sthal will serve as a source of inspiration for future generations.
