New Delhi: Following the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the new building is going to fill all of us with pride and hope.
“As the new building of India’s Parliament is inaugurated, our hearts and minds are filled with pride, hope and promise. May this iconic building be a cradle of empowerment, igniting dreams and nurturing them into reality. May it propel our great nation to new heights of progress,” PM Modi wrote in a tweet.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi cast shade at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the event as the police detained protesting wrestlers who gave a call for Mahila Mahapanchayat and tried to take out a march to the the newly inaugurated Parliament building demanding action against Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
"The coronation is over - the 'arrogant king' is crushing the voice of the public on the streets!" he tweeted.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya too hailed the inauguration of the new parliament building, calling it a 'proud moment' for all Indians.
Speaking to ANI, Mandaviya said, "It is a proud moment for all of us today that after independence, the world's oldest & largest democracy is getting a new parliament that is made in the country: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on new Parliament house inauguration ceremony."
On the occasion of the inaugural ceremony, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw praised Prime Minister Modi for strengthening democratic institutions.
"Our parliament is the temple of our democracy. There was a time when Rahul Gandhi tore the ordinance by our government, our PM in front of the public & undermined our democracy. The opposition parties have always undermined democracy. I want to thank the PM for strengthening the democratic institutions. The opposition must rethink their decision and participate in this (ceremony)," Vaishnaw told ANI on new Parliament inauguration ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the new Parliament building as part of the Central Vista redevelopment project.
On the inaugural eve, adheenam priests from Chennai arrived at PM Modi's residence in the national capital and handed over the ‘Sengol’ to the latter. 'Sengol’, a spectre handed over by Lord Mountbatten to India’s first PM Nehru to mark Independence, has been installed in the Lok Sabha chamber of the new Parliament building.
A Tamil word meaning 'spectre,' Sengol was originally handed over by Lord Mountbatten to India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to commemorate the country's independence.
On the occasion Kamatchipuri Adheenam's Gnanaguru Saktha Sri Sivalingeswara Swamigal said, "From Tamil Nadu, 25 Adheenams participated, wished the Prime Minister and gave the prasadams from various mutts. We also gave mementoes to the Prime Minister...Tomorrow the Sengol, which was given during independence, will be consecrated and placed in the Central Hall. The new Parliament will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister."
All Adheenams will participate, he added.
Meanwhile, 20 Opposition parties had announced that they would boycott the inauguration event of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying sidelining President Droupadi Murmu is not only a "grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy, which demands a commensurate response".
Among the parties who would not attend the event include Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Janata Dal(United), Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Muslim League, National Conference, and Kerala Congress.