Govt To Launch Special Rs 75 Coin To Mark Opening Of New Parliament Building

A special Rs 75 coin will be launched by the Centre to mark the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28.

A special Rs 75 coin will be launched by the Centre to mark the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28.

The Centre will launch a special Rs 75 coin for the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, a notification issued by the Ministry Of Finance said. The notifications said the coin will have a circular shape with a diameter of 44 millimetres and will be made of a quaternary alloy — 50 per cent silver, 40 per cent copper, 5 per cent nickel, 5 per cent zinc.

“The face of the coin shall bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the center, with the legend 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below, flanked on the left periphery with the word 'Bharat' in Devnagri script and on the right periphery the word “INDIA” in English,” the notification stated, adding that reverse side of the coin will display an image of the Parliament complex. The inscription 'Sansad Sankul' will be written in Devanagari script on the upper periphery while the words 'Parliament Complex' in English on the lower periphery of the coin.

As many as 19 opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP, and AAP, came together on Wednesday and announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that they find no value in a new building when the soul of democracy has been sucked out.

In a joint statement, the 19 parties said, “Prime Minister Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response.”

We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building, the parties said.

We will continue to fight - in letter, in spirit, and substance - against this 'authoritarian' prime minister and his government, and take our message directly to the people of India, the opposition parties mentioned.

When asked about the opposition decision, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the government has extended the invitation to all political parties and they will respond as per their wisdom. He also said the event in which 'Sengol', a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu, which was received by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to represent the transfer of power from the British and will be installed in the new Parliament building, should not be linked with politics.

The government of India has invited everyone to be present at the inauguration. Everyone will act as per their wisdom, he said at a press conference when asked about the boycott call.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi termed the opposition parties' move as unfortunate and urged them to reconsider their stand. Boycotting and making an issue out of a non-issue is most unfortunate. I appeal to them to reconsider their decision and join the function, Joshi said, as per PTI.