Congress Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh has sparked controversy by drawing a parallel between the new Parliament building and the old one, suggesting that the new complex should be dubbed "Modi Multiplex."
He expressed his displeasure with the new structure, calling it "painful and agonising" and attributing its flaws to a lack of engagement with those who would use it.
Jairam Ramesh noted the dramatic disparities between the new Parliament building and the old one, now called as Samvidhan Sadan, in a comment shared on a social media platform.
He claimed that the new building "weakens the bonding needed to make the running of Parliament a success," whereas the old structure had a distinct air and facilitated talks among legislators.
According to Ramesh, the architecture of the new Parliament building appeared to stifle meaningful conversations and cooperation among legislators during the four-day special session held within its boundaries.
He was harsh in his critique, even blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the alleged problems: "If architecture can kill democracy, the PM has already succeeded even without rewriting the Constitution," he said.
Ramesh also mentioned the new building's practical flaws, such as the necessity for binoculars to see coworkers due to its less cosy and compact shape. He compared this with the circular layout of the original building, which made navigation easier.
In his opinion, the new structure appears almost claustrophobic in comparison to the old one's sense of space and openness.
The Congress MP lamented the loss of pleasure in visiting Parliament, saying that he used to look forward to travelling to the old building but now finds it "painful and agonising."
He expressed confidence that many of his colleagues, regardless of party allegiance, share his opinions.
Furthermore, Ramesh said that the design of the new building failed to take into account the needs of the Secretariat workers. He claimed that this was due to a failure to consult with those who would use the facility.
Jairam Ramesh intimated in a veiled statement that the new Parliament building could be used following a "regime change" in 2024. This suggestion implies that the current administration's priorities and utilisation of the facility do not correspond to his vision.
In reaction to Jairam Ramesh's comments, BJP National President JP Nadda accused him of having a "pathetic mindset."
Nadda contended that Ramesh's words were insulting to the aspirations of the Indian people and reminded them of prior times in which the Congress party appeared to be anti-Parliamentary.
He notably mentioned the 1975 events in India, when the Congress declared a state of emergency.
On May 28, the same year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the new Parliament building in a special ceremony.
It just held its inaugural session as part of a government-called Special Session, during which the historic Women's Reservation Bill was passed in both Houses of Parliament.