Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that a statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens in Rashtrapati Bhavan will be replaced by that of C. Rajagopalachari, the first Indian governor-general of independent India. He said Rashtrapati Bhavan will celebrate Rajaji Utsav on February 23. He said even 78 years after Independence, statues of British administrators remained in Rashtrapati Bhavan, while those of Indian leaders were not honoured. The Prime Minister said that the country is now shunning symbols of colonial rule and embracing Indian heroes and culture. His conduct, self-restraint, and independent thinking in public life inspire us even today,” he said.

Source: The Hindu February 22, 2026 16:22 UTC