Academicians, activists, human rights torchbearers,  environmentalists, lawyers, politicians, religious preachers, students and good samaritans from all over the country came together to voice out their opposition to the Central Vista project for a new parliament and a new residence for India’s Prime Minister and Vice-President. Convened by the Committee Central Vista Virodhi Bharat, holding history and heritage to heart, the project was opposed tooth and nail by the participants. WSN reports.

THE NEW MAHARASHTRA SADAN on the quiet lanes of Delhi came alive at the round-table four-hour meeting barely metres away from the Rajpath where the Central Vista Project is being planned and constructed. Leading lights of the socialist movement conducted a hectic brainstorming session on strategies to oppose the project, even though the Delhi High Court has given a go-ahead.

Among others Vidya Chavan, Abu Azmi, Com. Ashok Dhawle, Pratibha Shinde, Dr Lata P. Madhukar, Vishal Hiwale, Cecilia Cardoza, Shramika Dalvi, Com. Shailendra Kamble, Dr. Vivek Korde, Com. Raju Korde, Dr Ashatai Mirge, Furkan Sheikh and Rizvi Shaikh participated in the deliberations.

Other leaders and activists who participated in the meet included Gurmeet Singh, George Matthews, Mohammad Siddiqui, Dr. Parvez Miyan, Prakash Gajbhiye and Com. Maryam Dhawale.

Inaugurating the campaign of “Central Vista Virodhi Bharat” former MLC from Maharashtra -Vidya Chavan said, “We want hospitals and not Central Vista – The Palace for the Prime Minister.”  “This is an act against people’s basic rights and we strongly condemn it,” she added.

“We need vaccines and not a new palace for the Prime Minister, we need vaccines , hospitals, medical and health care units in the country and not newly built palaces for the nouveau riche political leadership. With the currently estimated expenditure of 23,000 crores, there can be at least 182 best in class AIIMS like hospitals across the country.”

Comrade Ashok Dhawle announced the launch of an all-India protest movement against the land grab in Delhi on 9 August 2021.

Rajya Sabha Member Parliament from Maharashtra of the NCP -Fauziya Khan said that the Central Vista is against our historical legacy. She said we now need to see the campaign as “Vista Versus Vaccines”, “Kisan Versus PM Ka Makaan” and Oxygen Versus PM’s Palace”

“Vista Versus Vaccines”, “Kisan Versus PM Ka Makaan” and Oxygen Versus PM’s Palace”

Fauziya Khan, MP, Upper House of Indian Parliament

Maharashtra MLA Abu Azmi, pioneering this forum declared that he will take this issue all over Uttar Pradesh during the elections there.

Firebrand leader from Gujarat and now a member of the Congress party, Hardik Patel said, “He was not talking from Modi’s Gujarat but Gandhi’s Gujarat and he considers his political and moral responsibility to hold the Modi government accountable for this gargantuan unnecessary project.”

Dr Sunilam from All India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti said that this is sabotage to destroy our right of filing PILs and going to Court. We should ask all contestants in the upcoming election to mention in their manifesto to build many more AIIMS in their respective states and oppose the Central Vista in New Delhi.

Activist Gurmeet SIngh from Delhi voiced his support for the campaign and pointed out the huge harm that would be caused to historical archives, monuments and books as the National Archives and the National Museum would also be razed to the ground to create space for the verandah of the nouveau riche of India. He worried whether literature and material inimical to Hindutva would remain stored or would be simply destroyed or would vanish as stolen.

On the occasion of this event, Sohail Hashmi and Ananya were felicitated for their crucial contribution to bring out the heritage and legacy of India Gate Precinct and the monuments around it.

Young and promising leaders like Asif Iqubal Tanha, who was recently released from jail after being implicated on frivolous charges, Naim Khan, Anusha from DYF, Vishal Hiwale, Amol Matele, Vinay Mishra, MLA (AAP), Sunil Chabake and Shramika Dalvi.

Regretting the silence of vested interests, the participants at the meeting observed,  “The execution of the Central Vista Project in Covid19 times has been criticized by the concerned souls of the society. The executive of the country has not voiced out the concerns on bypassing rules, the legislative is being autocratic and not much bothered for their selfish interests being hand in glove in this not at all needed project, and even the Judiciary has acted in favour of the plans.”