Prime Minister inaugurates new Parliament building

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi installs the ‘Sengol’ in an enclosure on the right side of the Speaker’s chair in the Lok Sabha chamber at the inauguration of the new Parliament building, in New Delhi on Sunday.

 

NEW DELHI:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28 unveiled the plaque to mark the inauguration of the much-awaited new Parliament building. The Prime Minister also installed the scared ‘Sengol’ in the Lok Sabha chamber, right next to the Speaker’s chair, after performing puja. Mr. Modi was handed over the historic ‘Sengol’ by Adheenams before its installed in the new Parliament building.

 

Home Minister Amit Shah earlier said that it is the same ‘Sengol’ that was accepted by the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru at his residence on the night of August 14, in the presence of several leaders. The ceremony began with a traditional ‘puja’ with Vedic rituals which will continue for an hour. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was also present with along with Mr. Modi during the puja.

The four-storey building has been constructed at an estimated cost of ₹970 crore.

 

Earlier, 19 Opposition parties — including the Congress — had issued a joint statement saying that there was no value in a new building when the “soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament.” The building has been designed by Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management, and constructed by Tata Projects Limited.