The Majestic New Parliament Building in New Delhi
[Our Opinion and Review on the editorial published in NDTV]
The article titled “The New Parliament Building and the Democratic Future of India” by Hilal Ahmed discusses the public debate surrounding the construction of a new parliament building in India. The author points out that while the debate has focused on architectural relevance, cost, and urban landscape, there has been a lack of attention to the long-term impact on Indian politics and the idea of people’s representation.
The article highlights two important aspects. Firstly, it emphasizes the constitutional democracy of India, where people’s representation is a fundamental feature. The Constitution mandates that the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Lok Sabha should be determined based on the population of each state or union territory. Therefore, with the changing demographic profile, an expanded parliament building could be seen as necessary to accommodate the increasing number of MPs, aligning with the principle of people’s representation.
Secondly, the article discusses the flexibility of the Constitution in allowing the restructuring and expansion of political institutions to respond to changing political demands. The initiative to construct a new parliament building aligns with this constitutional feature, as it provides a modern space for the functioning of the legislative body. The author draws parallels to the conversion of the Imperial Legislative Council building into the parliament House in the 1950s.
However, the article raises concerns about whether the new parliament building truly corresponds to the democratic aspirations of the people. While the building can accommodate more MPs, the author argues that the focus seems to be more on technical and economic justifications rather than on the constitutional mandate or people’s inspiration. If it fails to address the issue of people’s representation, the new parliament building may be viewed as mere political symbolism.
In summary, the article emphasizes the need to consider the impact of the new parliament building on Indian democracy, particularly in terms of people’s representation. It highlights the constitutional principles of India and raises questions about whether the construction of the building aligns with the democratic aspirations of the people or if it remains a symbolic gesture.
#DemocracyMatters #NewParliament #PeoplePower #DemocraticFuture #PeoplesRepresentation #BuildingTheNation