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An ode to the old Parliament: What happens to it now?

It has been standing tall and strong with each phase that this country had to face and has witnessed India’s transition from pre-Independent to an Independent state.

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An ode to the old Parliament: What happens to it now?

By Pratik Agrawal

A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends… – India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in his historic Tryst with Destiny speech.

With India all set to get a new Parliament building dedicated to the country on Sunday, a moment Nehru savoured in 1947 looks set for replication on May 28.

When all eyes are on the new Parliament, the old one must not be forgotten, the one that has been witness to history as free India made its baby steps and has now entered the so-called Amrit Kaal. So one must wonder what happens to the old Parliament now?

There has been no comprehensive thought given to what use it would be put to. The Union government has said conserving and rejuvenating the rich heritage of the old Parliament building is a matter of national importance.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said earlier that the existing building would undergo renovation and be repaired for alternative uses. Some reports have said a portion of the old building could be converted into a museum for the general public.

Last November ahead of Constitution Day, Supreme Court Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai had made an exceptional wish when he had sought then Law Minister Kiren Rjiju’s assistance in shifting the Supreme Court from its current location to its original location, which was the old Parliament building itself.

The Federal Court of India, which was established in 1937 under the Government of India Act, 1935, was functioning in the Chamber of Princes in the Parliament House for 12 years until January 28, 1950 when it became the Supreme Court of India.

The Supreme Court then continued to function from the old Parliament building till 1958, when it was shifted to the present Supreme Court complex.

Old Parliament Building brief history

Originally known as Council House, the foundation stone of old Parliament was laid on February 12, 1921 and was completed in 6 years.

The now-heritage building was inaugurated by Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of British-ruled India on January 18, 1927.

The building was designed by Herbert Baker and Edwin Lutyens. It cost around Rs 83 lakh then to build it.

A witness to India’s modern history

It has been standing tall and strong with each phase that this country had to face and has witnessed India’s transition from pre-Independent to an Independent state.

  • The most obvious moment for democratic India is the day it achieved independence from the British yoke. It was the one wish which had been dreamt of by thousands who embraced martyrdom.
  • The adoption of the Constitution in 1950 that declared India a republic giving its own supreme law and a federal structure in functioning.

Not free from attack

On November 7, 1966, Parliament faced its first attack when a large mob of gaurakshaks, sadhus from across the country marched to it demanding a ban on cow slaughter across the country.

The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had just completed 10-months in power and was facing a no-confidence motion but in view of the attack, she ordered firing on the assaulters leading to the death of seven people. A policeman died as well.

Parliament attack, December 13, 2001

A terrorist attack on Parliament meant a direct attack on India, its people and democracy. At around 11:30 am, five terrorists drove into the Parliament complex firing AK-47 rounds but brave Watch and Ward staff and police foiled them from entering the House, which had that time’s leading politicians in it.

Speeches that found their way into history books

At the hour of independence, Jawaharlal Nehru made his Tryst with Destiny address and India woke up to independence.

The “Grammar of Anarchy” by Dr BR Ambedkar, the chairman of the drafting committee of the Constitution.

On November 25, 1949, Dr Ambedkar reminded the people of India about the responsibilities they got upon becoming independent. Ambedkar said now there was no chance of an excuse to blame the British, if anything goes wrong and if things go wrong thereafter, it will be the entire responsibility of us the people of Independent India.

Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s mic-drop moment came when he taught the world how to resign in style. On May 31, 1996, facing a trust vote, Vajpayee delivered a speech that showed rare visuals from Parliament — a day when the Opposition was also all ears to Vajpayee speaking without making an uproar.

There are many such instances when Parliament was a mute witness to epochal speeches by parliamentarians.

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Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary compares Congress leader Rahul Gandhi  with Osama Bin Laden, says one cannot become the PM just by growing beard

Choudhary’s comments came months after former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra sported a beard

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Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary compares Congress leader Rahul Gandhi  with Osama Bin Laden, says one cannot become the PM just by growing beard

BJP’s Bihar unit chief Samrat Chaudhary was addressing a public rally in Bihar’s Araria district when he compared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with slain terrorist former Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden and said Rahul Gandhi cannot become the Prime Minister of the India just by growing a beard.

Choudhary’s comments came months after former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra sported a beard. The BJP leader also slammed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar that he is going around the country telling everyone that he is the Prime Minister of the country. He said Kumar has lost his mental balance.

He commented on the opposition’s inability to select a Prime Ministerial candidate for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. He said kumar’s mental state resembled the character of Bollywood actor Aamir Khan in the film Ghajini. A meting of opposition parties is going to take place in Patna to chalk out a strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and fight united against the BJP.

A range of senior opposition leaders like Sharad Pawar, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi and others are going to be a part of the meeting.

Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma had made similar comments on Rahul Gandhi’s look. He had made a comparison of Gandhi with Saddam Hussein and advised him to shave his beard so that he could look like former Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Meanwhile Choudhary said, if BJP government is formed in Bihar action will be taken against those involved in cow slaughter. Continuing on his remarks on Gandhi Choudhary said Gandhi is a child and even questioned his political acumen.

He said although Rahul is 50 years old he lacks the political intelligence comparing him with a child having intellectual capacity of a child. Choudhary even addressed the issue of love Jihad. He said, if BJP government comes to power in Bihar, love jihadists will be identified and prosecuted.

He said, the BJP stressed on identifying and deporting Bangladeshi infiltrators from across the border.     

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Gurugram Police arrests couple who used Bumble to honey trap for extortion

The unusual case required different techniques to crack this case, the Police laid a trap and arrested the man red-handed from Moulsari market near sai temple while taking the remaining amount and also recovered Rs 50,000 which was earlier extorted by the duo criminals.  After Phogat’s disclosure, police nabbed the woman from U-Block of DLF Phase-3 in Gurugram on Wednesday.

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Gurugram Police with the accused

An interesting case of honey trap has surfaced, when Gurugram Police arrested a man and a woman who were involved in extorting money from another man. The victim had filed a complained at DLF Phase-3 Police Station on Wednesday.

The accused have been identified as Benita Kumari and Mahesh Phogat.

As per the Gurugram Police, the victim met the Kumari on the Bumble App(a dating app). They decided to meet in a hotel located in Sector-23, Gurugram on May 28, the woman encouraged the victim for booze but he refused to drink beer and came out of the hotel immediately as he realized something was wrong.  

After sometime, the woman called the victim with motive to blackmail, she threatened the victim to file a false case against him based on misbehaved and molestation in Police station. Thereafter, to settle the case with the victim, she along with her companion demanded Rs 5 lakh from the victim and after negotiation it was finally settled for Rs 2 lakh.

On Wednesday, the victim gave Rs 50,000 to Phogat and assured him to give the rest of money in the evening. The victim realized he is getting trapped into something big, he went to DLF Phase-3 Police station and lodged a complaint.

The unusual case required different techniques to crack this case, the police laid a trap and arrested the man red-handed from Moulsari market near Sai temple while taking the remaining amount and also recovered Rs 50,000 which was earlier extorted by the duo criminals.  After Phogat’s disclosure, police nabbed Kumari from U-Block of DLF Phase-3 in Gurugram on Wednesday.

Vikas Kaushik, ACP (DLF) said both the accused became friend in Gurugram and planned to commit crimes. The woman works as an advisor in private IT company and Mahesh other accused runs an NGO in Delhi.

Kaushik said, both of them were running this racket to cheat people through dating App. They call their targets to the hotel and blackmail them to extort money from victims. The woman has filed fake molestation and rape cases against almost five people.

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Wrestlers threaten Asian Games boycott if demands are not met

The protesting wrestlers held a mahapanchayat with Khap Leaders in Sonipat, Haryana today.

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Wrestlers threaten Asian Games boycott if demands are not met

India’s top wrestlers have threatened that they will boycott the upcoming Asian Games if their demands are not met. 2016 Olympics Medal Winner Sakshee Malikkh said talking to the media that the people do not understand their mental state.

The protesting wrestlers held a mahapanchayat with Khap Leaders in Sonipat, Haryana today. Ace wrestler Bajrang Punia earlier had said about sharing the details of their discussion with government with the Khap leaders in the Mahapanchayat.

Malikkh further clarified that Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Malikkh stand together in their protest against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as speculations riffed up after Phogat did not attend the meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur earlier this week. The meeting Minister Thakur took place for five hours after which the Minister presented a written proposal to the wrestlers. The proposal assured the wrestlers that there would be a thorough investigation in the matter by June 15, but did not mention anything about the arrest of the WFI chief.

It has been two months since the wrestlers have been protesting for the removal and arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Delhi Police on Friday, took a woman wrestler, accompanied by women police officers to Singh’s office as part of the investigation.

At about 1:30 pm they reached the WFI office and spent half an hour there. During this period the wrestler was asked to recreate the scene of the alleged harassment and recall the places where she was harassed.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat expressed her disappointment at the media reports that said the women wrestler had gone to the WFI office for a compromise. She tweeted that this was the power of Singh that he can harass women wrestlers use his muscle power, political power and run false narratives and can move freely in the society

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