Calcutta, June 8 :     So full is downtown Calcutta with Bengal's pantheon of political gods that there simply isn't room for one more: the administration cannot find a place for a statue of Indira Gandhi in the Esplanade-Maidan area. The government was hoping the Congress will agree to instal the statue at sites on Central Avenue, Hatibagan and Gariahat. But Congress leaders rejected the suggestions. Their leader, the Congress has argued, deserves pride of place and must be seen in close proximity with Subhash Chandra Bose, Gandhi, Karl Marx and Lenin. For eight years, the 12-foot bronze statue of the assassinated Prime Minister is gathering dust. Come hail or rain, the statue bears all with fortitude in the open courtyard of sculptor Ramesh Pal's studio. It cost Rs 6 lakh to make. A delegation of the Pradesh Congress will soon meet AICC president Sonia Gandhi and urge her to take up the matter with the CPM. A few months ago, the government decided to instal the statue at Dorina crossing near the Esplanade Metro station. The Congress was happy and leader of the Opposition Atish Sinha wrote to the chief minister expressing his pleasure. As the Congress prepared for a public function, the administration informed the party that the police had objected. 'We have to cancel our decision to set up the statue at Dorina crossing as both the police and transport department raised strong objection because a new road will go through the site,'' said PWD minister Kshiti Goswami. 'The construction of the new road has has begun. The road will ease traffic congestion at the Chowringhee crossing and Esplanade East. If the statue is installed there, it will be difficult to build the road. Besides, we cannot deviate an inch from the plan,'' said chief traffic and transportation engineer Ajit Bhattacharya. The police pointed out that the foot of the statue will soon become a place for political rallies that could disrupt law and order. But the Congress is adamant. 'I am surprised by the attitude of the state government. How can they neglect a leader like Indira Gandhi?'' Sinha asked. Goswami said he had suggested an alternative site near the Rani Rashmoni statue at Esplanade, but the Congress leaders did not like it. 'If they still do not like the spot, then the statue of former chief minister Ajoy Mukherjee, which is also ready, will be installed there,'' the minister said. Officials at Writers' Buildings held the Congress responsible for delay in installing the statue. 'The entire Maidan area is under the jurisdiction of the army. If the Congress wants its leader's statue to be there, let them talk to the army and obtain approval. We have no objection,''Goswami said. All the while, sculptor Ramesh Pal is agonising over the delay. 'I have put my heart into making the statue. It pains me that my creation is getting spoilt,'' he said.