new parliament house, new delhi

  New Parliament House Is Inaugurated By Prime Minister Today (28 May 2023)

A New Parliament House for a New India

The NDA (National Democratic Alliance) has strongly criticized the decision of 19 Open parties to boycott the opening of the New Parliament, accusing them of displaying boundless hypocrisy.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building and performed the installation of the sacred 'Sengol' in the Lok Sabha chamber, accompanied by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

During the ceremony, Adheenam seers presented the 'Sengol' to PM Modi, a revered symbol that was originally accepted by India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, at his residence on the night of August 14, 1947. As a mark of respect and to commence the inauguration, PM Modi prostrated before the 'Sengol' and sought blessings from priests of various adheenams, holding the holy sceptre in his hand.

BACKGROUND:

Plans to replace the existing Parliament building emerged in the early 2010s due to concerns about the stability and structural issues of the older structure. A committee was formed in 2012 to propose alternatives for the current building, which, despite its significance to India's national heritage, faces inadequacy in space to accommodate members and their staff.

Despite the genuine need for a new Parliament building, Congress and several other opposition parties chose to boycott the event, advocating that the President, not the Prime Minister, should inaugurate the building. Nevertheless, the necessity for a new structure had been acknowledged for a long time.

The current Parliament building, designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker in the 1920s as a 'Council House,' was not originally suitable to house a bicameral legislature comprising both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. With space to accommodate approximately 552 members, the current building faces challenges in hosting additional members expected after the delimitation exercise post-2026.

The government has stressed the urgent need for a new Parliament building, citing issues related to capacity, infrastructure, technology, and safety, making it necessary to address these concerns with the construction of the new facility.

Author: allykazmi