Jairam calls new parliament ‘Modi Multiplex’
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, September 23: A day after the conclusion of the special session of parliament, former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh has comes down heavily on the architecture of the new parliament building, alleging that it lacks the warmth of the old complex, now named ‘Samvidhan Sadan’.
“The new Parliament building launched with so much hype actually realises the PM’s (Narendra Modi) 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,” lamented Ramesh, who is also the head of the communication department of the Congress.
He asserted that “of architecture can kill democracy, the PM has already succeeded even without rewriting the Constitution”. “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,” added Ramesh.
Five days long special session of parliament has held this week, which also marked a shift from the old to the new parliament building by the members. “Quick coordination between the two Houses is now exceedingly cumbersome. 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,” added Ramesh, who served as the Union Minister for Rural Development in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government.
He underlined that “the old building gave you a sense of space and openness while the new one is almost claustrophobic. 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.”
He also stated 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.”
The BJP chief JP Nadda slammed Ramesh for claims made in a post on X, formerly Twitter, by saying “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.”
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