We leave this building with hope for the future: PM Modi leads House in bidding farewell to old Parliament building

Mentioning the names of most of his predecessors – he did not name Rajiv Gandhi – to appreciate their work, Modi, however, reminded the House that it had witnessed the cash-for-vote scam during the Manmohan Singh government. He also took a swipe at the Opposition for not thumping the desk for his “praise” of Nehru, saying despite the solemn mood, “politics comes in between”.

From Tuesday, on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will start functioning from the triangle-shaped new building, described by Modi as the reflection of the aspirations and dreams of 140 crore Indians. The building was inaugurated in May.

“Today we have an opportunity to connect with the past. We are leaving this building with hope for the future. I am confident that as we enter the new Parliament building, we will go there with new hope and confidence,” the Prime Minister said, initiating the discussion in Lok Sabha on ‘Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings’ during the five-day Special Session.

“Bidding goodbye to this building is an emotional moment… Many bitter-sweet memories are associated with it. We had differences and disputes but we witnessed ‘parivar bhav’ (‘family emotion’). This building will always inspire future generations,” he said.

According to Modi, though the existing building had been planned by “foreign powers”, it had the “sweat, efforts and money of my countrymen.”

Tracing the almost eight-decade-old history of Parliament House, Modi took the Opposition by surprise with his praise of Nehru. The echo of Nehru’s historic ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech, he said, will continue to inspire the country’s elected representatives.

“The echo of Nehru ji’s Stroke of Midnight speech will inspire us. In the same House, Atalji’s (Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s) words about ‘sarkarein aayengi, jayengi; partiyan banengi, bigdengi; lekin yeh desh rehna chahiye’ (governments may come and go; parties will be formed or disbanded; but this nation has to live on) continue to echo even today,” he said.

He credited P V Narasimha Rao for India “adopting new economic policies and measures” under his leadership at a time when the “country was reeling under economic distress”.

Recalling the journey of India’s democracy, Modi said the last day in this heritage building should be dedicated to the over 7,500 Parliamentarians – over 600 women included – who served in this building since Independence.

He also remembered Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Ram Manohar Lohia, L K Advani and others for “enriching the discussions and emboldening the voice of the common citizens” in the House.

The Prime Minister used his own story to underline the robustness of Indian democracy. He said he had never imagined that “a child from a poor family, living on a railway platform”, would reach Parliament.

“When I first entered… as an MP… I bowed down and honoured the Temple of Democracy. It was an emotional moment… I could have never imagined a child from a poor family, living on the railway platform, would ever be able to enter Parliament. I never imagined I would get so much love.”

“But this is the strength of India’s democracy and a reflection of the faith of the common man of India towards democracy that a child from a poor family, living on the railway platform, reached Parliament,” he said.

Stating that the world is talking about the India story, especially after the success of the G20 Summit and the successful Moon landing of the Chandrayaan-3, the Prime Minister said those were the result of “collective efforts”.

He listed the landmark legislation of his government during the last nine years. “The House will always say proudly that (the abrogation of) Article 370 became possible due to it… GST was also passed here… ‘One Rank-One Pension’ was witnessed (and) 10 per cent reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections was successfully allowed for the first time without dispute,” Modi said.

He also recalled the bravery of Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt who hurled bombs in the same Parliament building to wake up the British empire from its slumber. “The echo of that bomb still gives sleepless nights to those who wish well for this country,” he said.

He remembered the terror attack on Parliament House and the role of those who took bullets to save Members while fighting terrorists. “It was not an attack on the building, but an attack on the Mother of Democracy itself. It was an attack on the soul of India,” he said.

The Prime Minister hailed the contribution of B R Ambedkar, saying his vision for industrialisation, aimed at bringing social justice in the country during the first government of independent India, continues to remain at the heart of every industrial policy even today.

At the same time, he said, there have been sad and emotive moments when Parliament witnessed loss of three serving Prime Ministers – Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi – and they were paid rich tributes. “This House also supported the liberation of Bangladesh under the leadership of Indira Gandhi,” he said.

At the same time, this House, he said, also witnessed an attack on democracy during the Emergency. And it was through this House,he said, that the people also asserted their power by ensuring the return of democracy.

He said the House benefited from the addresses of Presidents – from Rajendra Prasad to A P J Abdul Kalam, Ram Nath Kovind to Droupadi Murmu.

The Prime Minister also recalled the dexterous handling of House proceedings by Speakers from G V Mavlankar to Sumitra Mahajan and incumbent Om Birla. “Everyone contributed in their own way, taking everyone along,” he said.

Modi said it is believed in scriptures that when a name is chanted several times in the same rhythm, it becomes a sound of penance.

“Sound has the power to transform a place into a perfect place. I believe that the voice of 7,500 representatives in this House has made it a place of pilgrimage. When a person who has faith in democracy comes to see this place 50 years from now, he will feel the echo of the voice of the soul of India that once resonated here,” he said.