Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar on Monday expressed support for the construction of a new parliament building, citing that it is necessary to accommodate the country's growing population, news agency ANI reported.
“Keeping the population of the country in mind which is crossing 135 crores, the people representing them will also increase. So I personally feel this new Parliament building was needed. It was built in record time even during the COVID period. Now in this new building, everyone should work as per the Constitution and resolve the issues of common people, everyone should take part in it”, Ajit Pawar was quoted by ANI on its official Twitter handle.
His remark sharply differs from the stance adopted by the NCP, which was one of the 20 opposition parties who skipped the opening ceremony of the new parliament building last Sunday. Sharad Pawar, who is Ajit's uncle, had voiced his worries regarding the customs that were observed during the commencement ceremony.
“I saw the event in the morning. I am happy I didn't go there. I am worried after seeing whatever happened there. There is a huge difference between the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru talking about the concept of modern India and a series of rituals performed at the new Parliament building today in New Delhi. I fear that we are taking our country backward by decades", NCP Chief Sharad Pawar had said.
The opening ceremony was considered incomplete by Supriya Sule, who happens to be Ajit Pawar's cousin.
On Sunday, the new parliament complex was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who presided over a ceremony that included Vedic customs and a prayer session involving multiple religions. He placed the renowned ‘Sengol’ artifact from Tamil Nadu beside the Speaker's seat in the Lok Sabha hall.
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