Congress's Jairam Ramesh Calls New Parliament Building 'Modi Marriot', BJP Slams 'Pathetic Mindset'

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh drew parallels with the old parliament building and said the new one lacks the aura required for parliamentary proceedings.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and BJP chief JP Nadda.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the architecture of the new Parliament building, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it should be called “Modi Multiplex or Modi Marriot”, a charge that the BJP slammed as being an insult to “aspirations of 140 crore Indians.” Taking to X, Ramesh posted, “It (new Parliament building) 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.”

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

Continuing his attack, the Congress MP drew parallels with the old building and said the new one lacks the bonding required for parliamentary proceedings and it is not cozy or compact.

“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. 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,” he wrote.

Jairam Ramesh further said the new building looks “painful and agonising” and the joy of visiting a parliament is lost.

“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. Perhaps a better use for the new Parliament building will be found after regime change in 2024,” he added.

Lashing out at the Congress leader, BJP national president JP Nadda said his remarks expose the “pathetic mindset” of his party.

Taking to X, Nadda wrote, “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.”

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

Reacting to the Congress leader’s tweet, RJD MP Manoj Jha said shifting to the new parliament building is in lines with PM Modi’s sudden change of plans. “There are many aspects in his tweet on which we can have discussions. This talk of going from this building to that building is similar to what PM Modi does… he plans on doing this or that suddenly... When we used to sit in that Parliament the leader of the ruling party could easily go to the opposition and have a conversation. There was a central hall. Central hall was that space where the biggest issues could be sorted out,” Jha told ANI.

#WATCH | On Congress MP Jairam Ramesh's tweet on the New Parliament building, RJD MP Manoj Jha says, "It's obvious that I read his tweet too. There are many aspects in his tweet on which we can have discussions. This talk of going from this building to that building is similar… pic.twitter.com/hnq247aXmq

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2023

Speaking to ANI, RSS leader Indresh Kumar said he would urge all the party leaders to rise above petty politics and not engage in the politics of hatred.