Indians Sue The 1.8 Billion Dollars Parliament Building Renovation Project Amid COVID-19 Crisis

JAKARTA - Two Indians, one of whom is a COVID-19 patient whose parents also have the same infection, filed a lawsuit at the New Delhi High Court, Wednesday, May 5, regarding the ongoing renovation of the Indian Parliament Building Complex.

The petitioners argue that the parliament building is not an essential service and that construction work could even become a COVID-19 spread cluster, according to a special leave petition filed by lawyer Nitin Saluja.

The High Court offered to hear the case later this month, but the petitioners took the matter to the Supreme Court, arguing that the lower court had failed to appreciate the severity of the COVID-19 tsunami situation in India.

"Because there are public health problems in this matter, any delay could harm the public's larger interest", wrote Saluja to the Supreme Court, as reported by CNN, Friday, May 7. Saluja said the case would most likely go to trial this Friday.

This lawsuit departs from the decision by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to continue the parliament renovation project, including a new home for the leader of the country worth USD 1.8 billion.

It is of great value, especially since India is facing the COVID-19 crisis, where vaccines are lacking, hospitals can no longer accommodate patients, oxygen is lacking so that ambulances are no longer available to all patients.

The expensive renovation, known as the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, has been categorized as an essential service, meaning construction is allowed to continue even when most other building projects have been halted.

In fact, the COVID-19 tsunami wave in India continues to claim casualties. As of last Thursday, India recorded a total of 21.485.285 cases of infection with 234.071 deaths due to COVID-19, based on Worldometers data.

Prior to the second wave of COVID-19, the Central Vista project had sparked controversy. Critics say rebuilding will cost history and legacy. Meanwhile, supporters of the renovation of a 35-hectare building complex say renovations are needed because the current 100-year-old building is not fit for purpose.

"The launch of the Indian Parliament Building, with the Indian idea of being 'Indian', is one of the most important milestones of our democratic tradition. We Indians will build this new Parliament building together", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in December when laying the foundation stone of the building.

To note, the overall project targeted for completion in 2026 includes the expansion of the parliament building, construction of a new parliament building, and the residence of the prime minister. This project is estimated to absorb 46.700 workers.

However, this project is still being criticized by the opposition and the public, because it is being continued in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis that is getting worse in India.

"The ego (of the prime minister) is bigger than people's lives", tweeted an opposition of parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi on social media.