Second leg of new Parliament inauguration begins

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh delivered speech, sharing messages from President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Harivansh said, “It is a matter of immense happiness that a new modern Parliament was constructed in less than 2.5 years under the leadership of PM Modi. This day is an important milestone as it will prove to be a source of inspiration in the Amritkaal.”

The screening of two short films will take place highlighting the significance of the occasion.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister will release a special ₹75 coin and a commemorative stamp, symbolizing the historical significance of the new Parliament building.

The ceremony will be concluded with the Prime Minister’s speech.

Earlier in the day, the occasion was marked by the installation of the historic ‘Sengol’ in the new Parliament House. The Prime Minister expressed that the new building instils hope and pride in every Indian, and he took to Twitter to share his aspirations for the iconic structure to become a nurturing ground for dreams and a catalyst for the progress of the nation.

As part of the event, a puja and havan were conducted in the Parliament premises, the Prime Minister paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, the ‘Sengol’ was installed near the Speaker’s chair in Lok Sabha, and a multi-faith prayer meeting was held with the presence of the Prime Minister, dignitaries, and religious leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and several Cabinet ministers, attended a significant ‘Sarv-dharma’ prayer ceremony held at the newly constructed Parliament building.

The ceremony, which aimed to promote religious inclusivity and unity, brought together leaders from different faiths to offer prayers and blessings.

Modi also honoured the workers who made significant contributions to the construction of the new Parliament building.

The new Parliament Building will represent the ethos of India with different materials of the building sourced from India’s various regions. The sandstone for the building has been brought from Rajasthan’s Samthura while the Ashoka Chakras inside both houses have been sourced from Indore.

The newly constructed Parliament building will accommodate a larger number of members, with seating capacity for 888 individuals in the Lok Sabha. In contrast, the existing Parliament building currently allows for the seating of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha and 250 in the Rajya Sabha.

Updated: 28 May 2023, 12:17 PM IST