THE inauguration of India’s new Parliament, built over the last two years, marks a moment in the life of a nation that draws on its civilizational history and, at the same time, holds the promise of a more prosperous and equitable future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here Sunday. Suggesting that India is witnessing an awakening of national consciousness similar to what was seen during the decisive last 25-year phase of the freedom struggle, Modi projected the building as a symbol of a resurgent “new India” and linked it to his government’s welfare deliveries in the past nine years. As many as 21 Opposition parties, led by the Congress, stayed away from the function protesting what they called was the Government’s “grave insult” to the President by not inviting her. In her message read out at the inauguration ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu said she was glad that the Prime Minister, who symbolises the trust of Parliament, is inaugurating the building. In attendance were former President Ram Nath Kovind, former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, several Chief Ministers and Union Ministers. Delivering his first speech in the new building, Modi repeatedly tapped into the sense of “national pride” pointing out that the new building was a reflection of the aspirations and dreams of 140 crore Indians and a message to the world about the country’s determination. Underlining that India was shedding the “mentality of slavery,” the Prime Minister’s speech, punctuated several times by loud applause, was peppered with references to “new India.” “This is not just a building. It is a reflection of the aspirations and dreams of 140 crore Indians. This is the temple of our democracy. This is a message to the world about India’s determination…This new Parliament building connects planning to reality, policy to realization, willpower to execution, and sankalp to siddhi,” he said. The new and the need for the new was a refrain in his speech. Pointing out that “new models can be established only by treading new paths”, Modi said: “There is a new energy, new zeal, new enthusiasm, new thinking and a new journey. There are new visions, new directions, new resolutions and a new trust…When India moves forward, the world moves forward. This new building of the Parliament will call for the development of the world along with the development of India.” Drawing an arc of history, Modi said there comes a time when the consciousness of the country awakens anew. He said Mahatma Gandhi’s movement was one such moment 25 years before Independence and the country was then filled with belief and hope. He said India will mark the 100th year of its Independence in the next 25 years. “Together we have to make India a developed nation in these 25 years. The goal is big, the goal is also difficult but today (everyone) has to work hard for it, take new vows, make new resolutions, gather a new pace,” he said. “When a country like India, full of diversity, with a huge population that tackles various challenges, moves forward with a belief, it inspires many countries of the world. Every achievement of India is going to become an achievement for different countries in different parts of the world in the coming days.” “India is not only a democratic nation but also the mother of democracy. Today India is also a big base of global democracy. Democracy is not just a system for us, it is a culture, an idea, a tradition,” he said. “The new India of the 21st century, an India full of high spirit, is now leaving behind (the) mentality of slavery. Today, India is once again turning that glorious stream of ancient times towards itself. And this new building of Parliament has become a living symbol of this effort,” he said. The Prime Minister linked the new building to his government’s accomplishments in the last nine years, virtually setting the tone for the BJP’s 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign. He spoke about the 4 crore new houses that were built for the poor, construction of 11 crore toilets and more than 4 lakh km roads to connect the villages. He said more than 50,000 water bodies had been constructed over the last nine years along with 30,000 new Panchayat bhawans. “From Panchayat Bhawans to Parliament only one inspiration guided us - the development of the nation and its people”, he said. Modi said “if any expert assesses the last nine years, he will find that these nine years have been of new construction in India, of welfare of the poor.” “Every decision taken here will adorn and enrich our future generations…Every decision which will be taken here will become the basis for India’s bright future…the path of empowerment of poor, Dalit, backwards, tribals, differently abled, and every deprived family of our society pass through here…every brick, every wall…iska har kan kan (every particle) is dedicated to the welfare of the poor,” he said. “Every law which will be made in this new Parliament building in the next 25 years will transform India into a developed nation…every law will help India come out of poverty, create new opportunities for the youth and the women…I am confident that the new Parliament building will become the basis for the creation of a new India…a prosperous, strong and development India,” he said. In an apparent reference to the delimitation exercise which may be conducted within a decade, Prime Minister Modi said the existing Parliament building will not be able to accommodate more MPs. “We all know how difficult it was becoming for everyone to complete their tasks in the old Parliament building. There were problems related to technology, there was a challenge related to the seating area. That is why for the last two and a half decades there has been continuous discussion that the country needs a new Parliament building. And we also have to see that in the coming times the number of seats will increase, the number of MPs will increase, where would those people sit? So it was the need of the hour that a new Parliament building should be constructed,” he said. The government had told Parliament in March that as per existing law, the next delimitation exercise may be conducted following the first census after the year 2026.
