New Parliament: PM Calls it ‘Historic’; Cong Says ‘Desperation’
Catch all the live updates on the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Parliament building here.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 10 December laid the foundation stone for a new Parliament building at Central Vista in Delhi.
Calling it a historic day, PM Modi said that the new Parliament building will realise the needs of a 21st century-India.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala took to Twitter to ask what would a building built upon trampling democratic values represent.
- PM Modi said that the new Parliament building will fulfill the needs of a 21st Century India
- A ‘sarva dharma prarthana’ was observed following the laying of the foundation stone of the new Parliament building
- The event was also attended by Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi and Hardeep S Puri
- While BJP leaders and ministers congratulated PM Modi, Congress called the move ‘desperation’ and ‘insecurity’
- Under the proposed Central Vista Redevelopment plan, India is set to get a new Parliament building by July 2022
'Impressive Project': Ratan Tata on New Parliament Building
Ratan Tata, whose Tata Projects Ltd will be constructuing the new Parliament, told ANI that it’s an ‘impressive project’.
“It is an impressive project and I wish it all success. I am privileged to be invited to the foundation stone laying ceremony,” he said.
'Foundation on the Ruins of Liberal Democracy': P Chidambaram
Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted that the foundation for a new Parliament was laid on the ‘ruins of a liberal democracy’.
'Building Built Upon Trampling Democratic Values': Surjewala
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala took to Twitter to ask what would a building built upon trampling democratic values represent.
'Desperate Desire to Build Bigger and Scream Louder': Congress
The Congress Party, from its official handle tweeted that the ‘desperate desire to build bigger and scream louder comes from a deep-seated insecurity.’
'New Parliament Will Prove Revolutionary': BJP President JP Nadda
BJP president JP Nadda said that the new Parliament will give necessary upgrades and facilities to the institution and enhance the productivity of Parliament.
'Historic Day': Smriti Irani on Foundation-Laying Ceremony of New Central Vista Parliament
Union minister Smriti Irani said that the new Parliament will be a symbol of India’s ‘diverse culture and ancient heritage’.
New Parliament to Depict Vibrancy & Diversity of Modern India: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad took to Twitter to say that the new Parliament building will reflect the ‘vibrancy and diversity of modern India’.
“The new Parliament building will reflect the vibrancy and diversity of modern India, incorporating our cultural and regional arts and crafts. It will have 530 seats in media and public galleries of each House for witnessing Parliamentary proceedings,” he said.
'Defining Moment': Hardeep Puri on Foundation-Laying of New Parliament
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the foundation-laying of the new Parliament as a “defining moment in the history of Parliamentary democracy of India.”
'New Parliament to Fulfill Needs of New India': PM Modi
PM Modi, in his address after laying the foundation stone for the new Parliament building said that it will fulfill the needs of a 21st century India.
“Old Parliament building gave a new direction to India after independence. New building will be a witness to buidling of Aatmanirbhar Bhaarat. In theold building, work to fulfill necessities of the nation was done. In the new building, ambitions of India of 21st century will be realised,” he said.
'Still Remember the Day I First Entered this Temple of Democracy': PM Modi
PM Modi, in his address after laying the foundation stone for a new Parliament building at Central Vista said that he still remembers the day he entered the Parliament as the Prime Minister in 2014.
“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 bowed my head and saluted this temple of democracy,” he said.
“The current Parliament building is nearly 100 years old. It was upgraded many times, but now it needs to rest,” he said.
PM Addresses Nation After Bhoomi Pujan for New Parliament
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation after laying the foundation stone for a new Parliament building on the Central Vista in the national capital.
“Today is a historic day as the foundation of the New Parliament building has been laid. We the people of India together will construct this new building of the Parliament,” he said.
“This is a proud day 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,” he said.
RS Dy Chairman Harivansh Singh Reads Out Messages of President, Vice-President
Rajya Sabha Dy Chairman Harivansh Singh read out congratulatory messages by President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu after the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Parliament building.
New Central Vista Parliament: Union Minister Hardeep Puri Delivers Welcome Address
Union Minister Hardeep Puri, in his welcome address at the foundation stone laying ceremony, said that PM Modi has laid the foundation stone of “new India”.
“In the the last six years, PM Modi laid the foundation of a modern, strong, prosperous and self-reliant India with the inclusion of our proud history. In this continuation, today is a very important day,” he said.
Sarva Dharma Prayer Being Observed After Laying Foundation Stone
A ‘sarva dharma prarthana’ (inter-faith prayer) is being held following the laying of the foundation stone of the new Parliament building.
PM Modi Unveils Plaque
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils a plaque to mark the foundation stone laying ceremony of New Parliament Building in Delhi.
Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Om Birla Present at Event
The event is also being attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi and Hardeep S Puri, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh.
PM Modi Lays Foundation Stone for New Central Vista Parliament
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs pooja at the venue to lay the foundation and perform bhoomi pujan for a new Parliament building on the Central Vista in the national capital.
'Day to be Proud Of': Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Ahead of Central Vista Bhoomi Pujan
Ahead of the bhoomi pujan and foundation stone laying ceremony of the Central Vista Project, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla took to Twitter to call it a ‘day to be proud of.’
When Will the Construction of the New Parliament be Completed?
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on 5 November that the new structure is likely to be ready ahead of the Budget Session in 2022.
What Will Happen to the Existing Parliament?
The existing Parliament will be converted into an archaeological asset of the country – fitted, reportedly, to provide functional spaces for Parliamentary events.
The structure will complete 100 years in 2021 and was constructed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, who were responsible for the planning and construction of the city of New Delhi. It took six years to complete and cost Rs 83 lakh at that time.
What is the Opposition to Central Vista Revamp?
- As many as seven pleas have been filed in the Supreme Court against various permissions given to the project by the authorities, including the nod to change the land use.
- As many as 80 acres of land, which is currently accessible to the public, will become 'restricted' and can only be accessed by government officials. Architects argue that the change in land use is 'legally not tenable' – and that there is no provision to compensate for those spaces that won't remain accessible to public.
- No environment audit of the project has taken place either. At least 1,000 trees will be cut. There is also no plan on how the green cover will be replenished for the 80 acres of land which is being redeveloped. Climate activists are warning that the spiking levels of pollution in the national capital could deteriorate further if the construction begins.
- No heritage audit has been carried out for the project. Even Grade 1 heritage buildings like the National Museums – basically, buildings which are of national importance and architectural excellence – will be demolished or modified under the proposed redevelopment.
How Much Will the New Parliament Cost?
The new Parliament will cost Rs 776 crore, according to the CPWD’s application for environment clearance for the building.
But the cost of a new Parliament is not just financial. 194 trees will also be cut in the construction of the new Parliament. According to the CPWD’s application for environment clearance, there are 326 trees currently at the proposed project land. Apart from other vegetation, 194 trees will be cut or transplanted. The application also mentions plans to plant 250 trees to make up for the loss of trees during construction.
What Will be Different in this New Parliament?
The new Parliament will be larger than the existing building. It will have space for 900 MPs – with 800 MPs for Lok Sabha and 100 MPs for Rajya Sabha – and enough space for a joint Parliament session of 1,350 MPs.
According to a presentation given by Bimal Patel, director of HCP Design, the new Parliament will also have a separate lounge for MPs, a VIP lounge, and office space for MPs.
Under the proposed new Parliament building, the space available to MPs will increase to 60cm by 60cm, with enough space for a desk and with each bench seating two MPs.
Who Will Be in Attendance at the Ceremony?
The function will be attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi and Hardeep S Puri, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh.
Around 200 dignitaries, including Union Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Secretaries Ambassadors/High Commissioners will attend the function, which will also be webcast live.
KCR Writes to PM Modi Ahead of Ceremony
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday conveyed his greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day ahead of the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the new Parliament building in New Delhi.
"I join you with a sense of pride on the occasion of laying the foundation stone for the grand project of Central Vista," the chief minister stated in a letter to the PM.
Supreme Court Gives Nod to Central Vista Groundbreaking Ceremony
The Supreme Court on 7 December allowed the central government to go ahead with the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Central Vista site while noting that no construction, demolition or felling of trees shall take place at the spot.
The apex court has expressed its discontentment with the way in which the ceremony was being conducted before the court had ruled on the case, but still allowed it to proceed.
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