New Delhi: In a move aimed at enhancing accessibility, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated Prerna Sthal within the Parliament House complex. This new site consolidates statues of prominent leaders, making them easier for visitors to admire and pay respects. Previously scattered across different locations, the statues of national leaders within the Parliament House complex have been centralized at Prerna Sthal. This initiative allows dignitaries and visitors to view and honor these figures conveniently in one place.Congress objectionHowever, the Congress party has strongly objected to this relocation. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the move and claimed it undermines the symbolic importance of these statues and violates democratic principles. In his X post, he wrote, 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 installed in a different corner. Removing these statues arbitrarily without any consultation is a violation of the basic spirit of our democracy.My statement on relocation of statues of major leaders in the Parliament House Complex —1. 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…— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 16, 2024Kharge emphasized the historical significance of each statues original placement. He cited Mahatma Gandhis statue in Dhyan Mudra, which served as a gathering point for peaceful protests by members of Parliament. He raised concerns over decisions being made unilaterally without adequate parliamentary discussion.Jairam Rameshs critiqueEchoing Kharges sentiments, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticized the absence of parliamentary oversight in the decision-making process. He raised concerns about the unilateral nature of the decision and its implications for democratic traditions.इसके अलावा अब अंबेडकर जयंती समारोह भी उस तरह से भव्य रूप से नहीं होगा। उसका उतना महत्व नहीं रह जाएगा, क्योंकि उनकी प्रतिमा अब संसद परिसर में विशिष्ट स्थान पर नहीं होगी। https://t.co/ECMbflEwBt— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 16, 2024BJP leader Om Birla clarifiesResponding to the criticism, Speaker Om Birla clarified that the statues havent been removed but relocated respectfully to Prerna Sthal. He emphasized that the initiative aims to streamline access for visitors and uphold the legacy of these great leaders.देश के महान नेताओं, क्रांतिकारियों तथा समाज में धार्मिक–आध्यात्मिक पुनर्जागरण के अग्रदूत इन विभूतियों की यह प्रतिमाएं पूर्व में संसद भवन परिसर में विभिन्न स्थानों पर स्थापित थीं। किसी भी प्रतिमा को हटाया नहीं गया है, बल्कि सभी को ससम्मान प्रेरणा स्थल पर पुनर्स्थापित किया गया है। pic.twitter.com/9tv9X0Rz0j— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) June 16, 2024Innovation in visitor experienceAn action plan has been devised to enhance visitor engagement at Prerna Sthal. Visitors will have access to the life stories and messages of these leaders through QR codes, enabling them to draw inspiration from their contributions to the nation.This isnt the first time statues have been relocated within the Parliament complex. During the construction of the new Parliament building, statues of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders were also moved. The surroundings of Prerna Sthal have been landscaped to create conducive spaces for tribute and reflection.
