Parliament Inauguration LIVE: Modi Calls New Building 'Dream of 140 Cr Indians'
Watch live coverage of the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building here.
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New Parliament Building Inauguration LIVE Updates: India on Sunday, 27 May, got a new Parliament building with Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicking off the inauguration ceremony by performing a pooja in the premises, following which he placed the Sengol in the new Lok Sabha chamber.
Addressing the nation, PM Modi said: "This is not just a building. It is the reflection of the wishes and dreams of 140 crore Indians. It is a reflection of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The new Parliament building will fulfill the dreams of India's freedom fighters."
The inauguration ceremony began at 7:30 am with a havan performed by PM Modi following which the Sengol, which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claims to be the symbol of transfer of power from the British in 1947, was placed in the Lok Sabha.
The building was inaugurated by PM Modi even as 21 Opposition parties, including the Congress, have decided to boycott the ceremony citing no invitation to President Droupadi Murmu.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter said that PM Modi is "treating the ceremony like his coronation."
In the address, read out by Lok Sabha deputy Speaker Harivansh Singh, President Droupadi Murmu said: "The new Parliament building's inauguration is a matter of pride and joy for all Indians."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to say: "The Prime Minister is treating the inauguration of the Parliament House as a coronation."
The new Parliament building boasts a seating capacity for 888 MPs in the Lok Sabha, up from the old 552 seats and seating capacity for up to 384 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, up from the old 245 seats.
The new Lok Sabha is also approximately three times the size of the old Lok Sabha with its design inspired by the peacock. The new Rajya Sabha is themed after a lotus, India's national flower.
'I'm Happy I Didn't Go (to the Inauguration)': Sharad Pawar
According to ANI, commenting on the inauguration of the new Parliament with havan, multi-faith prayers and 'Sengol’, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said:
'Delighted to See Sengol Being Recognised at the Inauguration': Tweets PM Modi
'Dream of 140 Crore Indians, Dawn of Atmanirbhar Bharat': PM Modi
Addressing the nation, PM Modi said that the new Parliament building is a reflection of the wishes and dreams of 140 crore Indians.
"This is not just a building. It is the reflection of the wishes and dreams of 140 crore Indians. It is a reflection of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The new Parliament building will fulfill the dreams of India's freedom fighters," he said.
"The Sengol was placed in the Parliament building today. It was a symbol of duty, service, and governance in the Chola dynasty," he added.
Here are the key highlights of his address:
In the development journey of every country, some dates become immortal. 28 May is one such a day.
India is the mother of democracy. It is also the foundation of global democracy. Democracy is our culture, idea, and tradition.
It is our good fortune that we have been able to restore the pride of the holy 'Sengol'. Whenever proceedings start in this House the 'Sengol' will inspire us.
It was the need of the hour that we build a new, better Parliament.
It was taken care that the Parliament building uses less electricity and is technologically sound.
At least 60,000 workers contributed to the building of this building. There is a digital library dedicated to them in the premises.
The past nine years have been about new innovations and upliftment of the poor. While I am proud of the new building, I am also proud that we build 4 crore homes and 11 crore toilets for the poor in nine years.
New Parliament complex will witness realisation of our 'developed India' resolution.
Our democracy is our inspiration, our Constitution our resolve; Parliament best representative of this inspiration, resolution.
New Parliament building is the perfect example of co-existence of the old and the new
We have 25 years of 'amrit kaal khand', together we have to make India a developed nation in this period.
PM Modi Releases New Stamp, Rs 75 Coin
PM Narendra Modi released a new stamp and a Rs 75 coin at the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building.
'Inauguration Treated Like PM's Coronation': Rahul Gandhi
After the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to say:
"The Parliament is the voice of the people! The Prime Minister is treating the inauguration of the Parliament House as a coronation," he said.
Harivansh Singh Reads Out President's Address
Lok Sabha deputy Speaker Harivansh Singh read out President Droupadi Murmu's address at the inauguration ceremony.
"The new Parliament building's inauguration is a matter of pride and joy for all Indians. Indian Parliament is a part of India's social conscience. The Parliament is a power centre for our rich democratic values," she said.
'Embrace this Symbol from Past...': Tharoor on Sengol
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said the positions taken by the government and the Opposition on the issue are reconcilable, as he called for embracing this symbol from the past to affirm the values of our present.
"From my point of view both sides have good arguments on the Sengol dispute. The government's argument is justified that the scepter shows the continuity of tradition by embodying the rule of sacred sovereignty and dharma. The argument of the opposition is justified that the constitution is made in the name of the countrymen and sovereignty is present in the representation of the countrymen in the Parliament of the countrymen, and the constitution is not a divine right given by the royal prerogative of a king." he tweeted.
"These arguments of power and opposition can be reconciled if the controversial and distracting story of Mountbatten's transfer of scepter power to Nehru, for which there is no evidence, is discarded. We must say straight away that the Scepter Sengol is a traditional symbol of power and authority, and by installing it in the Lok Sabha, India is making sure that sovereignty resides there in the Lok Sabha and not with any king," he added.
Second Leg of Inauguration Ceremony Begins
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the new Parliament building for the second leg of the inauguration ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Harivansh Singh said that the new building's inauguration will be remembered as a "golden chapter in India's history."
"It is a matter of immense happiness that a new modern Parliament was constructed in less than 2.5 years under the leadership of PM Modi," Singh said.
'Exemplifies Time-Honoured Values': Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari took to hail the inauguration of the new Parliament building.
"India, the mother of all democracies, exemplifies its time-honored values and illustrious heritage through the magnificent inauguration of the new Parliament building," he said.
'Om Birla Should Have Inaugurated New Parliament': Owaisi
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla should have inaugurated the new Parliament building.
"It would have been better if Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla inaugurated the new Parliament House," he said.
'No Political Comments Today': Sudhanshu Trivedi
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said: "No political comments should be made on the day when the new Parliament building is being inaugurated today. All political parties should rise above politics and respect this."
'Building be a Cradle of Empowerment': PM Modi
PM Modi took to Twitter to call the new Parliament building "a cradle of empowerment."
"As the new building of India’s Parliament is inaugurated, our hearts and minds are filled with pride, hope and promise. May this iconic building be a cradle of empowerment, igniting dreams and nurturing them into reality. May it propel our great nation to new heights of progress," he tweeted.
'Painful to See No Opposition at Ceremony': Supriya Sule
Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule said that to open a new Parliament building without the Opposition makes it an incomplete event.
"It is very painful for me, for somebody who is proud of Indian Parliament and democracy. To open a new Parliament building without the Opposition makes it an incomplete event. It means there is no democracy in the country," she told news agency ANI.
She further said that the invitations for the ceremony were sent to Opposition leaders on WhatsApp.
"It's not about us getting calls, it's a bout dignity," she said.
Opinion: ‘Boycott’ Isn’t the Counter to Modi’s Attempt to Bypass the Indian Constitution
These Constitutional protocols and proprieties are an integral part of the ethics and culture of parliamentary democracy. They determine not only the form of parliamentary democracy but also its soul and substance. Obviously, Prime Minister Modi believes these rules and norms do not apply to him since it is he who took the decision to build a new building for Indian Parliament.
Hence, he wants the posterity to remember only his name as its builder. This was obvious when the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ for the new building took place on 10 December 2020. Neither the then President Ramnath Kovind nor the then Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu was invited to the function. Similarly, neither the incumbent President Droupadi Murmu nor the incumbent Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, invited to its inaugural function.
Read this article by Sudheendra Kulkarni here.
Opinion: Opposition Parties Boycott Inauguration. Is it a Mistake?
Let us concede that the Opposition's allegations may have some merit. From the manner in which the farm laws were passed to the recent ordinance issued by the Centre curtailing the powers of the elected government of Delhi, there are several decisions by the Centre which can be seen as going contrary to the democratic traditions.
The Opposition parties may also have a point when they say that the President should have inaugurated the new Parliament.
However, does this merit a boycott of the inauguration ceremony itself?
The Parliament belongs to the entire nation. Yes, PM Modi may be inaugurating it and probably this isn't how the inauguration should have happened. But the building itself and the institution it represents, will remain much after PM Modi's term. At least that's what one hopes.
Read this article by Aditya Menon here.
Opinion: India’s New Parliament Building: An Ode to Democracy and Oath for Sustaining It?
Nonetheless, petty partisanship aside, it is hoped that the new building will truly symbolise the spirit of self-reliant India or Atmanirbhar Bharat, as alluded by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
It should represent each and every citizen without fear or favour towards any, and as Atal Bihari Vajpayee movingly said, “Indian democracy’s greatest strength is that we have always put the nation above politics”. It is time that those words of wisdom from the man of letters and constitutional dignity are remembered, as India opens a new Sansad Bhavan.
Gates of Two Metro Stations Closed in Delhi
All entry and exit gates at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan stations of the Delhi Metro have been closed because of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.
10 Less-Known Facts About India's New Parliament Building
Four storeys tall, sprawled across 64,500 square metres - 10 lesser known facts about the new Parliament building:
Second Leg of the Ceremony to Begin at 11:00 am
The second leg of the ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:00 am with PM Modi's address scheduled shortly after.
Here's the schedule for the second leg:
11.30 AM: Arrival of guests and dignitaries
12.00 PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives. Ceremony begins with the National Anthem
12.10 PM: Speech by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, likely to read out messages from President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar
12.17 PM: Screening of two short films.
12.38 PM: Speech by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
1.05 PM: Release of Rs 75 coin and a commemorative stamp by the Prime Minister
1.10 PM: Speech by PM Narendra Modi
2.00 PM: Ceremony concludes
Watch: PM Modi Paid Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi Ahead of Parliament Inauguration
'Proud Moment for India': Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the inauguration of the new Parliament is a proud moment for India.
"It is a proud moment for all of us today that after Independence, the world's oldest and largest democracy is getting a new Parliament that is made in the country," he told news agency ANI.
'Historic Day': Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the new Parliament is a symbol of self-respect for 142 crore Indians.
"Today is a historic day for the countrymen because on this day Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to hand over the new Parliament House to the country," he told news agency ANI.
Prayers of All Faiths Being Performed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participates in prayers of all faiths after placing the Sengol in new Lok Sabha chamber.
"Today, we have given the message of unity in diversity," Jewish Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar told ANI.
"The new Parliament House has been inaugurated today. I offered prayers according to Buddhist rituals. Everyone should work for the growth of the country unitedly and keep politics aside," Lama Chosphel Zotpa, President, Himalaya Buddhist Cultural Association told news agency ANI.
PM Modi Felicitates Construction Workers of Parliament Building
After placing the Sengol in the new Lok Sabha chamber, PM Modi felicitated construction workers who worked for the construction of the new Parliament building.
PM Modi Places Sengol in New Lok Sabha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed the Sengol in the new Lok Sabha chamber.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claims that the Sengol symbolised the transfer of power in 1947 from the British to India.
PM Modi Performs Pooja in New Parliament Premises
Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicks off the inauguration ceremony by performing a pooja in the new Parliament premises on Sunday with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Heavy Security in Lutyens' Delhi
Thousands of police personnel have been deployed in Lutyens' Delhi with robust security arrangement in and around the new Parliament building to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on Sunday.
The wrestlers protesting at the Jantar Mantar, about two kilometres from Parliament, said that they will go ahead with their "Mahila Mahapanchayat" near the new building at any cost.
Police, however, said that no protester will be allowed to move towards the new Parliament building as permission has not been granted.
A senior police officer said that security has been stepped up by enhancing police deployment, placing multiple barricades and sufficient police pickets and in addition, intensive patrolling is also being carried out across the national capital and its bordering areas to ensure that law and order is maintained.
Delhi Traffic Advisory
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory in light of the inauguration. The New Delhi district will be treated as a controlled area on Sunday and only bonafide residents, civil service aspirants, and public transport vehicles will be allowed to move in the area. Motorists have been advised to avoid the area from 5.30 am to 3 pm.
Row Over PM Presiding Over Event Instead of President:
At least 21 opposition parties decided to boycott the event because the PM will be presiding over the inauguration instead of President Droupadi Murmu.
On Wednesday, parties including the Congress, Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party issued a joint statement that read, "However, Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response."
The New Parliament Building
The new building, which is triangular in shape, has a built-up area of 65,000 square metre. It is located in front of the existing Parliament building.
The new Lok Sabha will have a capacity of up to 888 seats. The central hall in the old Parliament building has 440 seats. The colours and aesthetic of the new Lok Sabha hall are inspired by the peacock, the national bird. The hall might accommodate 1,272 seats during joint sessions.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha hall will have a capacity of up to 384 seats. It is based on a 'lotus', the national flower.
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