Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said New India was setting new goals and craving new paths for itself along with new enthusiasm and new ideas in his speech at the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

PM Modi hoped the new building would witness the rise of a self-reliant India. He said the inauguration of the new Parliament building was a historic occasion and such moments have historic significance in a country’s development.

Acknowledging the ongoing celebration of “Azadi ka Amrit Kaal”, the PM thanked the people of India for gifting its democracy a new Parliament, as a symbol of their commitment to democratic values.

The installation of the Sengol in Parliament was a notable highlight, he said. PM Modi said he drew inspiration from the Chola dynasty, where the Sengol is the symbol of justice and good governance. He was grateful for the opportunity to restore the pride associated with the Sengol serving as an inspirational symbol.

Underlining the importance of Parliament in Indian democracy, PM Modi said the Constitution was the compass and the Parliament was its representation.

The Prime Minister said the country began a new adventure after freeing itself from the shackles of slavery. That adventure has had numerous ups and downs and many obstacles stood vanquished and entered the Golden Age of Freedom, the run-up to 100 years of Independence.

The new Parliament building is a perfect illustration of how the old and modern can coexist, PM Modi said while lauding the 60,000 people who built it and in whose honour a digital gallery has been created.

Apart from the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Singh also shared their views during the event emphasizing on the significance of the occasion and their vision for a united and progressive India.

Birla said he had faith that the fresh mood brought about by the new Parliament will inspire fresh thinking. He said the basic tenets of the parliamentary system must be carried through. The historic multiculturalism exemplified by this Parliament can be seen in India, one of the world’s oldest democracies. Indian Parliament is the epicentre of democratic values, he said.

Birla thanked the Prime Minister for helping to create the new Parliament in less than 2.5 years.

In his welcome speech, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Singh noted the new structure offers a significantly larger capacity to accommodate a greater number of members compared to the old Parliament.

He was optimistic that the new Parliament will witness many decisions for India’s golden future.

The Opposition slammed the inauguration of the new Parliament building in New Delhi on Sunday. A total 20 opposition parties had boycotted the proceedings since they said the inauguration should be done by President Droupadi Murmu and not by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted the Parliament is the voice of the people but the Prime Minister seems to think the inauguration of the Parliament building is some coronation ceremony. Gandhi was attempting to draw a parallel with the Central government’s attaching too great a significance to the Sengol and to the sceptre held by King Charles III after he was crowned.

The Congress drew attention to the fact that the inauguration fell on the birth anniversary of Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted that on May 28, 1964, Jawaharlal Nehru, the person who did the most to nurture parliamentary democracy in India, was cremated. On the same day in 1883, he noted, Savarkar was born.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said he was glad he was very glad that he did witness the event in person. The NCP chief expressed worry and concern if the current government wants to take the country backward. He also wondered if the event was for a select few from the ruling party and its allies, referring to the lack of diversity in the crowd.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the Constitution guarantees equality for all but on Sunday, the government wanted to go back to medieval times. The undue deference to seers from Tamil Nadu coupled with the event being attended only by a chosen few, reeked of attempts to re-establish older orders of power, Yechury said.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal social media handle put out a tweet showing the new Parliment’s photo next to that of a coffin, leaving it to the reader to deduce that the RJD was referring to a murder of democracy. BJP leaders criticised the jibe, saying it’s an insult to democracy.

In a heartwarming gesture, Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar shared their voice-overs for a video showcasing the new Parliament building in response to a special request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video, which was initially shared by PM Modi himself, gained positive reviews as various celebrities and political leaders, including Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar, shared their views.

Shah Rukh Khan, known for his charismatic personality, expressed his thoughts on the new Parliament building, referring to it as a “new home for the people who uphold our Constitution.” Followed by words from his film Swades, his voice-over resonated with the spirit of unity and inclusion, stating, “May this new home be so big that it has a place for everyone from every village, city, and every corner of the country. May the arms of the new home embrace people from all castes, creeds, and religions.” PM Modi, appreciating the sentiment, quote tweeted it, saying, “Beautifully expressed!”

Similarly, Akshay Kumar, an actor known for his patriotic roles, defined the new Parliament building as an “iconic symbol of India’s growth story.” In his voice-over, he combined captivating visuals, denoting the reflection of a new Parliament building as India’s rich heritage. PM Modi agreed with Kumar’s sentiments, emphasizing the building’s significance in representing India’s progress.

The prime minister retweeted these videos just a few hours before the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building on Sunday. 

Among the many voices adding their unique perspectives to the video, PM Modi also acknowledged actor Anupam Kher’s contribution. Kher’s poetic tribute to the new Parliament building praised it as a testament to democracy and remarked, “This is the feeling expressed in your poem, which is going to strengthen the faith of people in the temple of democracy.” 

Overall, the share of voice-overs between Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar for the new Parliament building video connects with the sentiments of the Indian people, however, PM Modi’s further appreciation strengthens the significance of this unique initiative.

The collective participation of celebrities and political figures in lending their voices to the video not only demonstrates their support for the new Parliament building but also showcases the unity and pride shared by Indians.