The inauguration ceremony of India’s new Parliament building has kicked off today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla have arrived at the new Parliament building and they were seen attending the puja and havan.
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 it was 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 PM Modi during the puja.
Earlier, declaring their intention to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament, 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 four-storey building has been constructed at an estimated cost of ₹970 crore. The building has been designed by Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management, and constructed by Tata Projects Limited.