New Delh:Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new building of the Parliament today.
Speaking on the occasion of Bhoomi Poojan, PM Modi said, “The new building is an intrinsic part of the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India) and will be a landmark opportunity to build peoples’ Parliament for the first time after independence, one which will match the needs and aspirations of ‘New India’ in the 75th anniversary of independence in 2022,”
Speaker Om Birla has said that on the completion of the 75 years of India’s independence, the government will begin the session of both the Houses in the new Parliament building. The 75th Independence Day would fall on 15 August 2022.
Addressing the gathering after, PM Modi called the day “historic” and said that the people of India together will construct this new building of the Parliament. “This is a day of pride for over 130 crore Indians when we are witnessing this historic moment. The new Parliament building is an example of the co-existence of the new and the old. This is an effort to make changes within oneself in accordance with the time and needs,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Modi recalled the moment when he got the opportunity to come to the Parliament House for the first time in 2014 as a Member of Parliament. “Then before stepping into this temple of democracy, I had bowed my head and saluted this temple of democracy,” he said. “If the old Parliament House gave direction to post-independence India, the new building would become a witness to the creation of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he added.
PM Modi said that the new Parliament building will include several new things which will help in increasing the efficiency of the MPs and their work culture witness new technology.
The new building will have an area of 64,500 square metres. It will also have a grand Constitution Hall to showcase India’s democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space.
New Parliament Building – Updates:
•Our efforts in next 25-26 yrs should be towards how do we want to see India in 2047, in our 100 years of Independence: PM Modi
•We should be guided by ‘nation first’ sentiment, national interest should be supreme in our every decision. For us, our concern for the nation should be above our concern for the self. For us, there should be nothing supreme than ensuring the country’s unity – PM Modi
•Our end goal should always be to serve the public. We should always remember that those sitting in Parliament are accountable to the public as well as the Constitution – PM Modi.
•In India, democracy has been a medium of not just governance but also a way to resolve differences. Different views, different perspectives strengthen a vibrant democracy.There should always be a space for differences but not for disconnect – PM Modi
•“If we continue on this path of ‘tantra and tatva’, very soon the world will also identify India as the Mother of democracy. Democracy is a culture in India. Democracy is a life value, a way of life and the soul of the life of the nation for India. Democracy of India is a system developed with the experience of centuries,” PM Modi said.
•“If the old Parliament House gave direction to post-independence India, the new building would become a witness to the creation of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. In the old building, work to fulfill necessities of the nation was done. In the new building, ambitions of India of 21st century will be realised,” PM Modi said in his address.
•“The new Parliament building is an example of the co-existence of the new and the old. This is an effort to make changes within oneself in accordance with the time and needs. I can never forget the moment in my life when I had the opportunity to come to Parliament House for the first time in 2014 as an MP. Then before stepping into this temple of democracy, I had owed my head and saluted this temple of democracy,” Prime Minister Modi said.
•“The commencement of the new Parliament building is one of the biggest steps towards the vision of a strong democracy. It is a matter for pride for more than 130 crore Indians to witness this historic moment,” PM Modi said.
•The new Parliament will be modern, state-of-the-art and energy efficient building. Lok Sabha will be 3 times of the existing size and Rajya Sabha will be substantially bigger. The interiors of the new building will showcase a rich blend of Indian culture and diversity.
“This is not just a historic moment for India, but for all democracies across the world. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making India script a historic journey for a strong, advanced, ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’… We’re proud to have a visionary Prime Minister,” Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.
•Religious leaders from 12 different faiths performed the ‘Sarva Dharma Prarthana’ after the foundation stone laying ceremony.
•In September this year, Tata Projects Limited won the bid to construct the new Parliament building. The new building will be constructed close to the existing one under the Central Vista redevelopment project.
•The new Parliament building will cost Rs 971 crore and is estimated to be completed by 2022.