New Delhi, 28 May: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on Sunday inaugurated India’s new parliament building amid protests and boycotts.
Most opposition parties did not participate, saying they wanted the president instead of Mr Modi to open the building.
During the ceremony, some of India’s top wrestlers were detained when they tried to reach the new parliament to protest.
The new building has replaced the British-era parliament.
Ceremonies leading up to a formal inauguration began at 07:00 (02:00 GMT) on Sunday.
Modi unveiled a plaque dedicating the building to the nation and later addressed a gathering of lawmakers.
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the main opposition Congress party, tweeted that Mr Modi was treating the parliament inauguration as a coronation ceremony.
Last week, 19 parties – including the Congress – announced their “collective decision” to boycott the ceremony.
They criticised the government for not asking President Droupadi Murmu, who is head of state, to open the new building. They also denounced the decision to hold the event on the birth anniversary of Hindu nationalist ideologue VD Savarkar. Opposition parties consider Savarkar a divisive figure, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hails him as a hero.
The BJP said the opposition’s boycott was a “disrespect to democracy”.
While the ceremony was going on, some of India’s top wrestlers were detained by police as they tried to stage a protest in front of the new building.
The wrestlers, including Olympic medallists, have been protesting in Delhi, demanding the resignation and arrest of their federation president, Brij Bhushan Singh.
Mr Singh, an influential lawmaker and politician from BJP, is accused of sexual abuse and harassment of female wrestlers – allegations he denies.
Mr Modi also installed what the government said was a historically significant gold sceptre, called the sengol, in the new parliament building.
He said that the presence of the “holy sengol” in the new building would inspire lawmakers.
The government said the gold sceptre was given to India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru by priests from a prominent Hindu sect. It added that the sengol was “the symbol of the transfer of power to India from the Britishers on the 14th of August in 1947”.
Opposition parties, however, said that the government’s claims about the sceptre’s importance were exaggerated.
The government said that the new parliament was necessary as the older building was “showing signs of distress and over utilization”. The old parliament building will be converted into a museum.
But it was criticised by many opposition politicians, environmentalists and civil society groups. They decried its cost, its construction during the pandemic and alleged that the government had not consulted other lawmakers and the public.
The Congress had also stayed away from the foundation stone-laying event of the new parliament in 2020.
Commentators said that the ongoing political row reflected a fractious milieu where India’s ruling party and the opposition were unable to reach an agreement on most issues.
“Both sides need to find a way out of the separate corners they have backed themselves into. They must do so because history will not forgive them if they won’t,” The Indian Express newspaper argued in an editorial.
Features of the new parliament
The new parliament, located adjacent to the old parliament in the heart of New Delhi, has been constructed by Tata Projects Limited, a Tata Group firm, within a two-year span, under the Central Vista project.
The new parliament building greatly extends the seating capacity of Lok Sabha MPs from the current 552 to 888. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha seating capacity has been extended from 245 to 384.
The design of the new Lok Sabha is inspired by India’s national bird peacock and Rajya Sabha has been designed with a focus on India’s national flower – lotus. The new parliament is spread over an area of around 65,000 square metres.
This is not just a building: PM Modi
In his first address from the new Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the New Sansad is a new tryst with new destiny. He said that when India moves forward, the world moves forward. He remarked that the new building of the Parliament will call for development of the world along with development of India.
Addressing the nation in the Lok Sabha chamber of the new Parliament building, Modi stressed that this is not just a building. “It is a reflection of Atmanirbhar Bharat and aspirations and dreams of 140 crore Indians,” he said and added, “This is the temple of our democracy giving the message of India’s determination to the world.”
Modi also launched a 75 rupees denomination coin and stamp to mark the occasion.
Nagaland CM Rio congratulates
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio congratulated the Union Government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all who contributed to building the New Parliament.
Taking to Twitter, Rio said, “I join the nation in congratulating the Union Govt., Shri @narendramodi Ji and all who contributed to building the historic #NewParliament.”
Rio also said, “Parliament is the supreme legislative body of a democracy” and expressed hope that it will be the “abode of transformational policies.”
I join the nation in congratulating the Union Govt., Shri @narendramodi Ji and all who contributed to building the historic #NewParliament. Parliament is the supreme legislative body of a democracy and I hope it will be the abode of transformational policies. #MyParliamentMyPride
— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) May 28, 2023
Mokokchung Times
(With inputs from agencies)
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