New Parliament tomorrow; Congress, BJP spar over ceremonial sceptre

Sharing the video, Modi tweeted: “The new Parliament building will make every Indian proud. This video offers a glimpse of this iconic building. I have a special request — share this video with your own voice-over, which conveys your thoughts. I will re-tweet some of them. Don’t forget to use #MyParliamentMyPride.”

The new Parliament building will make every Indian proud. This video offers a glimpse of this iconic building. I have a special request- share this video with your own voice-over, which conveys your thoughts. I will re-Tweet some of them. Don’t forget to use #MyParliamentMyPride. pic.twitter.com/yEt4F38e8E

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2023

The video showed an aerial view of the triangular building with the national emblem on top, as well as close-ups of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers.

The ceremony on Sunday will begin with an early morning havan and a multi-religion prayer, followed by a formal inauguration by Modi.

Saying that the PM’s “decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President (Droupadi) Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy,” 20 Opposition parties have announced their decision to boycott the event.

However, 25 parties, including non-NDA parties like the JD(S), BSP, TDP, have opposed the boycott and are expected to attend the inauguration.

Meanwhile, retweeting the video clip of the new Parliament, NC leader Omar Abdullah said: “Setting aside the brouhaha about the inauguration for a moment, this building is a welcome addition. The old Parliament House has served us well but as someone who has worked there for a few years, a lot of us often spoke amongst ourselves about the need for a new & improved Parliament building. Better late than never is all I’ll say & this one looks pretty damn impressive”.

On Friday, the ceremonial Sengol or sceptre, which will be handed to Modi and installed near the chair of the Speaker in the new Parliament building, became the latest flashpoint between the Congress and BJP.

Home Minister Amit Shah had said earlier that the Sengol was handed to Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of Independence to mark the transfer of power from the British.

But Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh tweeted that there is “no documented evidence” of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the Sengol as a symbol of transfer of power by the British to India.

“The sceptre is now being used by the PM & his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives,” he tweeted. “The real question is why is President Droupadi Murmu not being allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament,” he said.

Hitting back, Shah tweeted: “Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolise India’s freedom but it was banished to a museum as a ‘walking stick’.”

“Now, Congress has heaped another shameful insult. The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a holy Saivite Mutt, itself spoke about the importance of the Sengol at the time of India’s freedom. Congress is calling the Adheenam’s history as bogus! Congress needs to reflect on their behaviour,” he tweeted.

“Those parties which are boycotting the Parliament’s inauguration lack any commitment to democracy because their sole aim is to perpetuate a select group of dynasties. Such an approach is an insult to the makers of our Constitution. These parties must introspect,” BJP president J P Nadda tweeted.

The construction of the new Parliament building started in January 2021, after Modi laid the foundation stone and performed a bhoomi pujan on December 10, 2020.

The new building, spread over 64,500 square metres, has bigger Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers. The total seating capacity in Lok Sabha will increase from 543 in the existing building to 888; and from 250 to 384 in Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha chamber will be able to accommodate additional seating up to 1,272 seats. The new building does not have a Central Hall, and the new Lok Sabha chamber will be used for joint sittings.

The overall design and aesthetics of the premises draws from ancient Indian culture and iconography, said sources. According to sources, while the old Parliament was inspired by British architecture and symbolism, the idea behind the new complex was to reference ancient Indian civilisation and ethos.

Adorning a wall is a bronze mural of ‘samudra manthan’ inspired from Angkor Wat, said sources. “As India is celebrating 75 years of Independence, the narrative of Samudra Manthan impels us to reflect on the ocean, its unlimited potential, its aesthetics, and the possibility that lies within us,” says the document outlining the objectives of the artwork inside the new Parliament, reviewed by The Indian Express.

Even the building’s architecture and geometry are drawn from the Indian tradition of Vastu Shastra, said sources. The building’s triangular shape is inspired from sacred Indian geometry, while the interiors have national symbols as their main motifs. The Lok Sabha chamber is designed in the peacock motif, while the Rajya Sabha chamber is based on the lotus motif. The central foyer will be themed around the banyan tree, which is India’s national tree, said sources, adding that the interior walls have shlokas inscribed on them.

The building has six entrances, of which three are ceremonial entrances. These special entrances have been given the names of Gyan, Shakti and Karma, it is learnt. The ceremonial foyers at these three entrances will be accompanied by shlokas, explaining the artworks in Sanskrit, said sources.

At all the six entrances of the building, there are “guardian statues” of auspicious animals, including the elephant, horse, eagle, swan, an aquatic creature called makara, and a mythical creature called shardula that symbolises power.

Sources said the installation of artwork and alankaran (decoration) will continue beyond the inaugural ceremony. In the second phase, the Rajya Sabha wall will be utilised to highlight “the evolution and contribution of India’s intellectual tradition and spiritual heritage to society”, said sources.