Modi to unveil new Parl amid Opp’s boycott

New Delhi, May 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday inaugurate the new Parliament building, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, amid a boycott by several Opposition parties who insist that President Droupadi Murmu, as head of state, should do the honours.

Mr Modi on Saturday described the new Parliament building as a “temple of democracy” and wished that it continues to strengthen India’s development trajectory and empower millions. Mr Modi, who had urged people to share a video of the new building on Twitter with the hash ag “MyParliamentMyPrid e”, also noted that through emotional voiceovers, people are conveying a spirit of pride that the nation is getting a new Parliament that will keep working to fulfil people’s aspirations with more vigour.

Tagging a tweet by Union minister Hardeep Puri lauding the new Parliament

May this temple of democracy continue strengthening India’s development trajectory and empowering millions — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

building, Mr Modi said on Twitter, “May this temple of democracy continue strengthening India’s development trajectory and empowering millions.”

The Prime Minister also re-tweeted several people’s posts with the video of the new Parliament building and their voiceovers.

As many as 25 parties are expected to attend the inauguration of the new building, even though 20 Opposition parties have decided to boycott the event.

Former vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and

Rajya Sabha deputy Chairman Harivansh, among others, are expected to be present during the formal inauguration of the new complex.

On Friday, Mr Modi said the new Parliament building will make every Indian proud and shared a video of the new complex.

With carpets from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, bamboo flooring from Tripura and stone carvings from Rajasthan, the new Parliament building reflects India’s diverse culture.

Officials said the havan will be held outside the new building around 7 am on Sunday. ‘Sengol’, a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu that was received by first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to represent the transfer of power from the British and was kept in a museum in Allahabad, will be installed in the new Parliament building. It will be placed near the chair of LS Speaker in the House chamber.

However, amid a boycott by 20 Opposition parties of the inauguration ceremony, the Sengol too was dragged into the political row. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday claimed there was no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C. Rajagopalachari or Nehru describing the Sengol as a symbol of the transfer of power by the British to India.

The Congress’ stand on the Sengol evoked a strong reaction from home minister Amit Shah who said the party needs to “reflect” on its behaviour as he denounced its claim that there was no evidence of the Sengol being a symbol of the transfer of power by the British to India in 1947.

To mark the event, the government will issue a commemorative `75 coin.

The new Parliament building, constructed by Tata Projects Ltd will have a grand constitution hall to showcase India’s democratic heritage, a lounge for MPs, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space. The triangular-shaped, fourstorey building has a built-up area of 64,500 square metres.

The building has three main gates — gyan dwar, shakti dwar and karma dwar. It will have separate entrances for VIPs, MPs, and visitors.

The materials used for the new building have been acquired from various parts of the country.

The teakwood used in the building was sourced from Nagpur in Maharashtra, while the red and white sandstone was procured from Sarmathura in Rajasthan. The sandstone for the Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb in the national capital was also known to have been sourced from Sarmathura.

The kesharia green stone has been procured from Udaipur, the red granite from Lakha near Ajmer and the white marble has been sourced from Ambaji in Rajasthan. “In a way, the entire country came together to construct the temple of democracy, thus reflecting the true spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,” an official said.