Indian PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the new parliament building, lauding the launch as a symbol of 1.4 billion Indians’ “aspirations and dreams.”
Modi’s Inauguration Speech
During his speech at the inauguration, Modi said the event was a moment that would “become immortalised forever” and “etch an indelible signature” on Indian history. Marking the successful construction of the building, the Indian PM dedicated the new Parliament House to the nation.
With the event beginning with prayers from all the major religions in India, including Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, Modi called the building a “cradle of empowerment.”
He celebrated the building as a “temple of [India’s] democracy” that will serve as an “important link” between “reality, policies with implementation, will power with action power, and determination with success.”
Modi noted that the decisions made in the building will “empower the future generations” and “alleviate poverty.” He also said it would “transform India into a developed nation.”
The new Parliament building will make every Indian proud. This video offers a glimpse of this iconic building. I have a special request- share this video with your own voice-over, which conveys your thoughts. I will re-Tweet some of them. Don’t forget to use #MyParliamentMyPride. pic.twitter.com/yEt4F38e8E
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2023
The Indian PM said the Parliament will pave the way for a “New India” and its goals, journey, and perspectives. It will “be evidence of self-reliant India,” Modi declared. “When India progresses, the world progresses. This new Parliament House will not only beckon India’s development but also echo the call for global progress.”
Speaking of the changes the new Parliament will bring in, he emphasised the difficulties faced by legislators in the old building, relating to technology and seating arrangements. To this end, he noted that the new building is “equipped with modern facilities,” which will ensure that electricity consumption is minimised while making the latest technology readily available.
In addition, he said that the construction process employed over 60,000, whose efforts have been honoured through a “dedicated digital gallery.”
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. pic.twitter.com/zzGuRoHrUS
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 28, 2023
New Parliament Costs $120 million
The new Parliament building is a part of the Modi government’s ‘Central Vista’ plan to replace older British constructions, which is predicted to cost $2.8 billion. The old building is reportedly going to be converted into a museum.
The building is triangular in shape and can seat 1,272 legislators in its two chambers, 500 more than its predecessor. The construction cost $120 million.
Opposition to Launch
Several political parties boycotted the launch.
As a part of their opposition, the political parties criticised the government for excluding President Droupadi Murmu from the event. In a statement on Wednesday, the parties rejected Modi’s decision to inaugurate the building himself. Moreover, they said the Modi government had passed several “controversial legislation” without debate and “disqualified, suspended, and muted” legislators.
#WATCH | "Not only CPI(M) but 19 Opposition parties are boycotting this function...Parliament is a composite unit, headed by the President of India. The PM is only a leader of the Govt...In all rightness, respecting the Constitution of India, the President of India must… pic.twitter.com/rQ6ZKfogXE
— ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2023
“When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the parliament, we find no value in a new building,” the statement read.
Opposition leader Supriya Sule said that the government’s decision to proceed with the inauguration without the opposition’s support means the event is “incomplete” and there is no “democracy in the country.”
Meanwhile, the launch attracted criticism after several top wrestlers, who have been protesting in the capital city for weeks now, were manhandled and detained while attempting to march towards the new building.
After the project was launched in 2019, opposition leaders revamped their criticism in 2021, saying that the expensive project is poorly timed given the social and financial impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak.
In response, the ruling government defended its launch, saying they had followed relevant protocol.