In its official order, disclosed by the Scroll news website, the police directive said the building project contractors would be “allowed to continue their construction activity in view of the urgent timeline of their work”. The project envisages tearing down numerous official buildings, including red sandstone landmarks. In addition to a triangular parliament building and an accompanying secretariat facility, it includes erecting expansive residences for India’s prime minister and vice-president. ‘Not urgent’Earlier, Indian National Congress party head Sonia Gandhi, in a letter to Mr Modi, described the project project as “self-indulgent”, adding that parliament could function comfortably within the existing building. Activists said the money being spent on the building project could finance thousands of plants to generate oxygen, which was in short supply in all hospitals in Delhi and across India, resulting in hundreds of virus-infected patients dying.

Source: The Irish Times April 28, 2021 16:09 UTC