PM symbol of House trust, deeply satisfied he inaugurated it: President

“Humare samvidhan ke shilpkaron ne ek aisi rashtra ki parikalpana ki thi jiska swarup loktrantic padhyatiyon se chune gaye pratinidhiyon se bani sansad ke bidhayi vivek ke aadhar par nirmit hoga. Isliye mujhe is baat par gehra santosh hai ke sansad ke vishwas ke pratik Pradhan Mantri is bhavan ka udghatan kar rahe hai (The architects of our Constitution had envisaged a nation that would be characterised by the legislative principles expounded by its legislatures elected democratically. So, I am deeply satisfied that the prime minister, who is the symbol of the Parliament’s trust, is inaugurating this building),” Murmu said in the statement which was welcomed by the thumping of their desks by members of the ruling BJP.

Among the Opposition parties that stayed away from the ceremony were the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, DMK, and the Left parties. In a joint statement issued on May 24, as many as 19 parties had said that the “Prime Minister Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response.” The BRS and the AIMIM, which were not signatories to the joint statement, also boycotted the inauguration Sunday.

Besides BJP MPs, its allies in the NDA and Union Ministers, the event was attended by parties such as the BJD, YSRCP, TDP, BSP and JD(S). Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda was among those seated on the front row. The President said that the respect for democratic discourse was the essence of India’s social and cultural traditions on the basis of which healthy debates and meaningful dialogues have been blossoming in our country for centuries.

In her message, Murmu said over the last seven decades, “Parliament has been a witness to many transformative legislative attempts”. “It has brought many changes which have enabled us to improve the lives of crores of people,” she said.

“This moment will be etched in golden words in India’s history. The inauguration of the new Parliament building of this country’s vast and diverse land, from the northernmost tip to the southernmost, from the eastern boundary to the western coast, for all Indians, is a moment of pride and matchless happiness,” she said.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s written message, also read out by Harivansh, reflected upon India’s ability to fuse its tradition and culture with symbols of modernity. The new Parliament building “also symbolises our resolve to liberate ourselves from the colonial mindset”, he said. “As I often say, and I firmly believe that Parliament is the ‘North Star’ of democracy. Parliament is the most authentic constitutional forum reflecting the mandate of the people. Its decisive role in law-making and shaping the destiny of Bharat is inviolable and it is the basic mantra, nectar, and essence of democracy,” he said.

Dhankhar, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, said the Parliament building, which is being phased out, was a witness to India’s journey since independence to its emergence as a big power in the world. The new Parliament is a symbol of our eternal values, he said, lauding the workforce which erected the new structure overcoming the challenges thrown up by the Covid pandemic. “This glorious, indigenous new Parliament is also a symbol of our freedom from the mindset of slavery,” Dhankhar said.

“Parliament is called the temple of democracy. Apart from fulfilling the aspirations and desires of the current and future generations, it will also act as a safeguard of our sanatana traditions and the finest democratic standards. It will reflect the finest thoughts from each and every corner of the country. It will have a priceless contribution in developing a national consensus among these thoughts. I am very glad to say that Prime Minister Modi, who is the first person born after the independence to occupy this post, is dedicating this building to the nation,” he said.