Taking it to social media platform ‘X’ veteran Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh said, the new parliament building should be called ‘Modi Multiplex and Modi Marriot’ as it realises the ‘PM’s objective very well. He added, that with the change of regime in 2024, the new building will be taken into better use and not for the parliamentary meetings and sessions.
Drawing a comparison between the old and the new parliament building, the senior congress leader went on to say that, the new one is “claustrophobic” and “like a maze”. One needs to carry binoculars to see one another, he added.
In his post, Ramesh said, that he witnessed the “death of confabulations and conversations both inside the two Houses and in the lobbies.”
The new Parliament building launched with so much hype actually realises the PM’s objectives very well. It should be called the Modi Multiplex or Modi Marriot. After four days, what I saw was the death of confabulations and conversations—both inside the two Houses and in the…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 23, 2023
“The new Parliament building launched with so much hype actually realises the PM’s objectives very well. It should be called the Modi Multiplex or Modi Marriot. After four days, what I saw was the death of confabulations and conversations—both inside the two Houses and in the lobbies. If architecture can kill democracy, the PM has already succeeded even without rewriting the Constitution,” he said in a post on X.
Congress general secretary compared the old Parliament building with the new building and said that coordination between the two Houses in the new building is exceedingly cumbersome and termed it as “claustrophobic”.
“Binoculars are needed to see each other since the halls are simply not cozy or compact. The old Parliament building not only had a certain aura but it facilitated conversations. It was easy to walk between Houses, the Central Hall, and the corridors. This new one weakens the bonding needed to make the running of Parliament a success,” said the Congress leader.
Criticising the design of the new Parliament building, the Congress leader said, “In the old building, if you were lost, you would find your way back again since it was circular. In the new building, if you lose your way, you are lost in a maze. The old building gave you a sense of space and openness while the new one is almost claustrophobic,” the Congress leader added.
Calling the new Parliament building painful and agonising, the Congress leader said that the joy of hanging out in Parliament has gone.
“The sheer joy of simply hanging out in Parliament has disappeared. I used to look forward to going to the old building. The new complex is painful and agonising. I am sure many of my colleagues across party lines feel the same. I have also heard from the staff in the Secretariat that the design of the new building has not considered the various functionalities required to help them do their work. This is what happens when no consultations are done with the people who will use the building.”
“This is what happens when no consultations are done with the people who will use the building. Perhaps a better use for the new Parliament building will be found after regime change in 2024,” Jairam Ramesh added.
“Perhaps a better use for the new Parliament building will be found after regime change in 2024,” he concluded.
The new Parliament building was inaugurated on May 28. However, the official entry into Parliament was on September 19 on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda hit back at Jairam over his remark.
“Even by the lowest standards of the Congress Party, this is a pathetic mindset. This is nothing but an insult to the aspirations of 140 crore Indians. In any case, this isn’t the first time Congress is anti-Parliament. They tried in 1975 and it failed miserably”, he added.
Even by the lowest standards of the Congress Party, this is a pathetic mindset. This is nothing but an insult to the aspirations of 140 crore Indians.
In any case, this isn’t the first time Congress is anti-Parliament. They tried in 1975 and it failed miserably.😀 https://t.co/QTVQxs4CIN
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 23, 2023
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, also replied to Jairam Ramesh’s complaints regarding the new Parliament building.
He said, “Here they go again! After trying every trick to question and criticise the New Parliament Building, one of their worn out Vidwans comes up with another gem! Sounds more like medical & social adjustment conditions than anything to do with the new building!”
“Not able to walk from one house to another, not able to see far enough & curiously – finding it both huge enough to require binoculars, yet being claustrophobic & a place which doesn’t allow him to socialise! Whoever gave him the idea that this was a Page-3 party!,” he added.
Here they go again!
After trying every trick to question & criticise the New Parliament Building, one of their worn out Vidwans comes up with another gem! Sounds more like medical & social adjustment conditions than anything to do with the new building! pic.twitter.com/zoKgl9nj4v— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) September 23, 2023
“The problem is not in the building or the saaf niyat with which it has been built – problem is in their near pathological urge to just wake up on odd mornings and find something to criticise – their love for everything colonial and visceral hatred for Indian civilisational ethos,” Puri added.
“Come to think, they’re just plain jealous that PM Narendra Modi has given India a new temple of democracy which is firmly rooted in India’s ancient culture and that the first bill to be passed here is one which will further push the naysayers into political irrelevance,” he concluded.
