Updated: December 11, 2020 1:25:25 am
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone for the new Parliament building during a ceremony in New Delhi on December 10 (Photo: PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who marked a milestone in India’s democracy and put his own stamp on the government’s Central Vista redevelopment project, laid the foundation stone for the new Parliament building on Thursday and said it will fulfill the aspirations of the country of the XXI century while symbolizing the “coexistence of the new and the old.”
“This is a historic day. This is a milestone in the history of the country. The people of the country will build the new Parliament together. The new Parliament building will exemplify the coexistence of the new and the old, ”Modi said.
The Prime Minister conducted the “bhumi pujan” for the building in the presence of six priests from Sringeri Math in Karnataka at 1 pm, which was followed by an interfaith prayer meeting. The 971 million rupee structure, covering 64,500 square meters, is expected to be developed in 2022, in time for the 75th anniversary of independence.
In his speech, Modi spoke about the “soul of democracy” and invoked Guru Nanak to emphasize that while there is room for differences and various schools of thought, they should not lead to a disconnect.
पीएम श्री @Narendra Modi नई दिल्ली में संसद के नए भवन का शिलान्यास करते हुए। # NewParliament4NuevoIndia pic.twitter.com/GKIQAUaeee
– BJP (@ BJP4India) December 10, 2020
“Various currents of thought, diverse perspectives help to strengthen democracy. We must move forward bearing in mind that there is room for differences but there should be no disconnect. Guru Nanak had said: jab tak sansar rahe, tab tak samvad rahe (As long as the world exists, the dialogue must continue). Speaking and listening are at the heart of the dialogue. In fact, this is the soul of democracy. There they can
There are differences in politics and politics, but there should be differences in the ultimate goal of serving the people, ”he said.
The comments came on a day when the Central Government reiterated that it was open to further discussions to break the deadlock with various farmers unions about their new farm laws. For the past two weeks, thousands of farmers, mostly from the Jatt Sikh community of Punjab, have been camping on the borders of Delhi to demand the removal of these laws.
The Prime Minister also made a personal note detailing the need for a new Parliament. “The (existing) building is now looking to retire. It is up to all of us to give 21st century India a new Parliament building. And this is a step towards achieving it, ”he said.
“I will never forget the day I entered Parliament for the first time, in 2014. This is the same building where Babasaheb Ambedkar and our founding fathers wrote our Constitution. Every piece of legislation written in this building is our pride. But we must also accept reality. This building is almost 100 years old. There has been incessant repair work over the years to keep it running, ”Modi said.
The event on Thursday was also attended by Lok Sabha Om Birla President, Rajya Sabha Harivansh Vice President, various Union ministers, including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, MPs, Heads of Mission diplomats and business leaders, including Tata Chairman Emeritus of Sons Ratan Tata.
Modi said the new Parliament building draws its strength from the country’s strong democracy. “During the Independence, doubts arose about the future of the nation. They predicted that democracy will not be successful in India, citing illiteracy, poverty, social diversity and lack of experience. Today, we can proudly say that we have proven the detractors wrong and that the 21st century world is witnessing the progress of Indian democracy, ”Modi said.
Referring to the history of the country, which is “behind the success of the democratic project in India”, Modi spoke about the Jansabhas in the 12th century during the time of the philosopher Basavanna, which “even predates the Magna Carta, a document of the century XIII which is often considered the basis of democracy ”.
“Before that, some inscriptions in a town called Uthiramerur located 80-85 km from Chennai indicate the presence of a democratic system even in the 10th century. There are inscriptions in the panchayat system during the reign of the Chola dynasty. They also had a provision whereby elected representatives could be declared unqualified to participate in elections. In addition, the candidates who did not declare their assets, along with their families, could not compete, “he said.
Given this tradition, Modi said, it is “ironic” that there are attempts by the Western world to explain democracy to India. “Generally, elsewhere, discussions of democracy revolve primarily around elections and governance. However, in India, democracy forms the soul of the nation, it is a way of life that evolved over centuries. When we discuss our democratic history with pride, India will emerge as the mother of democracy, ”he said.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that democracy, which is at the very core of Parliament’s existence, continues to evoke hope. We must bear in mind that every elected representative is accountable to the people and the Constitution. All our decisions must be guided by the principle of nation first and the national interest, ”Modi said.
On the occasion, messages from President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu were read. Kovind said that “the new building will stand alongside the current Parliament House in harmony, linking our past with the future in a perfect way.” Naidu said that “public representatives will find a pleasant space to debate public issues in a collegial way.”
The event was approved by the Supreme Court three days ago after it obtained a guarantee from the Government that no construction, demolition or translocation of trees will take place at the Vista Central site until the court resolves the various pending petitions against the project.
Defending the project, the Center had told the court that the The existing Parliament building had many shortcomings.such as insufficient space, structural weaknesses and security problems.
According to CPWD, the new Lok Sabha Chamber will be able to accommodate 876 members and 1,224 members during joint sessions, while the Rajya Sabha Chamber will be able to accommodate 400 members.
The building will be earthquake resistant and adaptable to the most modern digital technology. It will incorporate indigenous architecture from different parts of the country and showcase cultural diversity.
Around 2,000 people will participate directly in its construction, while another 9,000 will be there indirectly. More than 200 artists from various parts of the country will also work for the building.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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