Lutyens Statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan to Be Replaced with Rajagopalachari: PM Modi
New Delhi, Feb 22, KNT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that a statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens at Rashtrapati Bhavan will be replaced with that of C Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor-General of independent India.
The announcement was made during his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’. The Prime Minister said that despite independence, statues of British administrators continued to occupy space at the presidential estate, while prominent Indian leaders were not similarly represented.
He stated that the country is gradually moving away from symbols associated with colonial rule and is embracing figures rooted in Indian history and culture.
“A statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens also stood in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Now, this statue will be replaced by a statue of Rajaji,” the Prime Minister said.
C Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji, served as the last Governor-General of India from 1948 to 1950 and was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Edwin Lutyens was the principal architect of New Delhi and played a key role in designing the Viceroy’s House, now known as Rashtrapati Bhavan. [KNT]
