The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: The M.K. Gandhi statue in the parliament complex, in front of which MPs from across parties were often seen protesting, no longer stands where it once did. The statue – along with 14 others, including one of Dr B.R. Ambedkar – has been moved a new ‘Prerna Sthal’ inaugurated on Sunday (June 16) by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar.
The statues of Gandhi and Ambedkar have been installed near Gate No 7 of the old parliament building.
Opposition parties have criticised the decision, The Indian Express reported, saying that the statues were much more prominent in their earlier position. They have also argued that the statues were moved arbitrarily and without consultation.
“The statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar were situated in prominent locations and of other major leaders at appropriate locations after due deliberation and consideration. Each statue and its location across the Parliament House complex holds immense value and significance,” Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said.
“The statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a meditative posture located right in front of old Parliament Building held immense significance for India’s democratic polity. Members paid their respects at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi imbibing within themselves the spirit of Mahatma. It is at this place that Members often conducted peaceful and democratic protests, drawing strength from their presence.
“The statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar too hadbeen placed at a vantage point conveying the powerful message that Babasaheb is extolling 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 60s, I was in the forefront demanding for installation of statue of Babasaheb in the precincts of the Parliament House.
“Such concerted efforts eventually resulted in installing of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar statue at the place where it was hitherto before placed. The prior placement of Babasaheb statue also facilitated seamless movement of people paying their tributes to him on his birth and death anniversaries.
“All this has now been brought to a naught in arbitrary and unilateral manner.”
Before this, while the construction of the new parliament building was in progress, the Gandhi statue was relocated to outside the new building in 2021.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh also criticised the Modi government for taking this decision “unilaterally”. “Clearly it is a decision taken by the ruling regime unilaterally. Its sole objective is NOT to have statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Ambedkar–traditional sites of peaceful, legitimate and democratic protests–right next to where Parliament actually meets. The Mahatma Gandhi statue has thus been displaced not just once but actually twice,” he said on X.