Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building with an elaborate Sengol ceremony preceded by prayers from all faiths.

PM Modi arrived at the complex at 7:15 am and took part i a puja with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Seers (aadheenams) from Tamil Nadu then handed the PM the Sengol, which is said to have been given to India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru by Viceroy Louis Mountbatten to mark the transfer of power. The PM prostrated before the Sengol before the seers gave it to him. He then proceeded to walk into the new Parliament, holding the Sengol aloft in his hands accompanied by seers who chanted slokas.

PM Modi then installed the Sengol near the Lok Sabha Speaker’s chair with Om Birla by his side. He then lit a lamp marking the inauguration of the structure.

The Opposition was absent from the solemn festivities since it had boycotted the inauguration, holding that it should be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu and not PM Modi.

A historic moment!

Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji installed the sacred Sengol in the new Parliament.#SengolAtNewParliament #SengolOfIndia #MyParliamentMyPride pic.twitter.com/I6n2o3TvjE

— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) May 28, 2023

With state-of-the-art structure, the new Parliament building is said to meet the needs and standards of the 21st century. It is equipped with the latest technology and is up to the mark in terms of its environmental friendliness and energy efficiency.

The new Parliament can accommodate 888 Lok Sabha MPs and the Rajya Sabha chamber can seat 300. Both Houses of Parliament of 1,280 MPs can be seated in the Lok Sabha chamber.

#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi felicitates the workers who helped in the building and development of the new Parliament House. pic.twitter.com/r6TkOQp4PX

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2023

About the new Parliament building

The new parliament building is spread across 64,500 sq m and is located in the heart of New Delhi, and is made of steel and glass. The building has a state-of-the-art audio-visual system and a conference hall that can accommodate up to 1,000 people.

The new Parliament was designed by a team of architects led by Bimal Patel. The building is inspired by the traditional Indian architectural style. The building’s facade is made of white marble and is adorned with intricate carvings. The interior of the building is decorated with traditional motifs and artwork.

India, the mother of all democracies, exemplifies its time-honored values and illustrious heritage through the magnificent inauguration of the new Parliament building.#MyParliamentMyPride pic.twitter.com/Kwas6C9o2I

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) May 28, 2023

The construction of the new Parliament began in 2020, and was completed in 2023 with an installation cost of Rs 20,000 crore to build.

Significance of the new Parliament building

With the BJP set to end its second term in power, the party aims for re-election with a call to make India a developed nation in the next 25 years by when Independent India will turn 100. PM Modi has christened the period Amrit Kaal. As part of this, the new Parliament symbolises India’s progress and prosperity since 1947. It is a testament to the country’s growing economic and political power. The building is also a symbol of India’s commitment to democracy and its desire to become a leading global power.

It is significant that May 28 is also the birth anniversary of Veer Savarkar, the Hindutva ideologue. Among other projects, the Ayodhya Ram temple is due to be opened for the public early next year when India will elect its next government and send a fresh set of MPs to the new Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the eight governing council meeting of Niti Aayog today. At least Chief Ministers of six states skipped the meeting, a day ahead of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

The list of CMs who boycotted the meeting are West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.

Chaired the 8th Governing Council Meeting of @NITIAayog. Discussed various aspects of how we can collectively realise the dream of a Viksit Bharat. Also discussed numerous initiatives which will boost growth and ‘Ease of Living.’ https://t.co/TQ6WeNs8eq pic.twitter.com/3IO0dTWE53

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 27, 2023

The meeting was held at the new Convention Centre in Pragati Maidan, Delhi.

The theme of the meeting was Viksit Bharat at 2047: Role of Team India. Niti Aayog in an official statement stated today’s meeting will be participated by Chief Ministers, Lt Governors of all states and union territories, Union Ministers as ex-officio members, vice chairman and the members of the Niti Aayog.

The leaders of the states had announced their decision to skip the meeting due to various reasons.

Delhi CM Kejriwal in a written letter to PM Modi stated he is boycotting the meeting to protest against the May 19 ordinance moved by the Centre nullifying the Supreme Court judgement. Kejriwal in his letter termed the ordinance as undemocratic and unconstitutional.

Bihar CM Kumar while speaking to the media in Patna raised questions on the need of the new Parliament which is et to be inaugurated by PM Modi on May 28.

Kumar attacking the BJP said, the Central government in rule will change the history of the country and further added he sees no sense in attending the Niti Aayog meeting today at the new Parliament inauguration tomorrow.

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin will not be able to attend the meeting as he is on a three-day tour to Singapore and Japan, said state officials.

Punjab CM Mann stated the reason behind the boycott to be the Central government’s ignorance on farmer issues.

Telangana CM Rao is expected to attend a prearranged meeting with Kejriwal in Hyderabad on Saturday, the reason he is not attending the meeting.

While West Bengal CM Banerjee reason behind not attending the meeting was not stated, CM Banerjee is scheduled to visit Khadikul village in West Bengal to meet the family members of the victim of the blast in an illegal firecracker factory.

This comes after at least 20 opposition parties decided to boycott the inaugural event of the newly built Parliament building today.

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.

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A post shared by Pradeep Rai (@senioradvocate_pradeeprai)

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.