No more potraits on House premises

Only rare cases to get permission

Noticing that the premises is already over-crowded with images and forms of famous personalities, a committee headed by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has decided not to allow installation of any more statues.  

The Committee on Installation of Portraits, Statues of National Leaders and Parliamentarians in Parliament House Complex, has decided in a recent meeting that only a symbolic unveiling of the portraits would be allowed, after which the portrait would be handed over to the Parliament library.  

 However, permission to install statues could be given in rare cases, where proposals would go to the Parliament’s Heritage Committee for clearance. This committee also comes under the jurisdiction of the Speaker and is responsible for maintaining the heritage character of the Parliament building.

Sources in the Speaker’s office said it was decided to involve the Heritage Committee in the process because it looks after the Parliament structure.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, senior BJP leader LK Advani and CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, who were at the meeting, felt that Parliament House is over-crowded with statues, a source said.  

Long-pending demand

It was a long-pending demand from many quarters. Former Speaker P A Sangma had also supported the idea but could not introduce the freeze on statue installations due to political compulsions, the sources said.

At present, there are more than 50 statues and portraits of national and regional leaders in Parliament.