New Parliament building reflects aspirations of New India: PM Modi at inauguration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (May 28) said the new Parliament building reflected the aspirations of New India and was a testament to the dawn of a self-reliant nation.

Addressing a function to inaugurate the new Parliament building, Modi said as India surges ahead, the new Parliament building will also contribute to the world’s progress.

“The new Parliament building will be a testament to the dawn of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). It will be witness to our journey towards a Viksit Bharat (developed India),” Modi said at the event.

Among the attendees were former president Ram Nath Kovind, chief ministers YS Jagan Reddy, Yogi Adityanath, Eknath Shinde, and Neiphu Rio, foreign envoys, parliamentarians, and people from different walks of life.

“Aspirations of 1.4 billion people”

“More than just a building, the new Parliament encompasses the aspirations and dreams of 1.4 billion people. It sends a powerful message to the world about India’s unwavering determination,” Modi said.

The prime minister said the revered Sengol has also been installed in the new Parliament building on this historic day. “In the Chola empire, it (Sengol) was considered a symbol of the Kartavya Path (path of duty), Seva Path (path of service), and Rashtra Path (path of the nation),” Modi said.

The prime minister said India’s democracy was its inspiration, the Constitution its resolve, and Parliament was the best representative of this inspiration and resolution. He said the new Parliament building was the perfect example of the co-existence of the old and new.

President’s message

Earlier, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh read out messages from President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

President Droupadi Murmu welcomed the inauguration of the new parliament building and said it was “a matter of pride and joy for all the people of India”.

Calling it “an important milestone in our democratic journey,” President Murmu said, “The occasion of the inauguration of the new parliament building will be written in golden words in the history of India.”

Many Opposition parties, including the Congress, boycotted the inauguration in protest against it being done by the Prime Minister and not the President. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi on Sunday, “Parliament is the voice of the people! The Prime Minister is treating the inauguration of the Parliament House as his coronation.”

Vice-President and Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar said in his speech that the new Parliament building will help create political consensus and serve as a symbol of freedom from the mindset of slavery. He also hoped that it will find solutions to the aspirations of the people of India.

Commemorative stamp and coin

PM Modi also released a special commemorative postage stamp and a 75-rupee coin to mark the inauguration of the new Parliament building. He released the coin and the stamp at the inauguration event held at the Lok Sabha chamber of the new Parliament building.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister inaugurated the new Parliament building by installing the Sengol in the Lok Sabha house.

Dressed in traditional attire, Modi walked into the Parliament premises from its Gate No. 1 and was welcomed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Amid Vedic chants by priests from Karnataka’s Sringeri Matha, the prime minister performed the Ganapati Homam to invoke Gods to bless the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

Installation of Sengol

The prime minister prostrated before the historic Sengol and sought blessings from high priests of various adheenams in Tamil Nadu with the holy sceptre in hand.

Modi then carried the Sengol in a procession amid tunes of nadaswaram and chanting of Vedic mantras to the new Parliament building and installed it in a special enclosure on the right side of the Speaker’s chair in the Lok Sabha chamber.

Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, and Jitendra Singh, chief ministers of several states, and BJP president J P Nadda were present on the occasion. The prime minister felicitated some workers who played key roles in constructing the new Parliament building.

Also read: New Parliament inauguration: Sengol triggers BJP-Congress war of words

Adheenams (priests from Shaivite mathas in Tamil Nadu), Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, who were given the responsibility of making the Sengol, and those who built the new Parliament building, were honoured.

It was followed by a multi-faith prayer meet which saw attendance of the prime minister, cabinet ministers and chief ministers of states apart from saints and scholars.

Wrestlers’ protest: Delhi on alert

In the morning, Delhi Police tightened security in and around the Parliament complex, as well as at the borders of the national capital, in view of the Mahila Maha Panchayat called by the protesting wrestlers outside the new Parliament building on Sunday.

While several farmers’ outfits have committed to attend the Maha Panchayat, several protesters who reached the borders of Delhi have been stopped by the police from entering the national capital.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has also closed all entry and exit gates of the Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan Metro stations.