
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament building on Thursday and described the event as a "milestone in India's democratic history". (PTI)

Priests from the Sringeri Math Karnataka did the rituals for the 'bhoomi pujan' at the new Parliament building site and it was followed by a 'sarva dharma prarthana' (inter-faith prayer). (PTI)

The new building, whose construction is likely to be completed in 2022, will have an area of 64,500 square metres. (PTI)

Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone and performing the ground-breaking ceremony, Modi urged the people to take a pledge to keep 'India First' and asserted that every decision should increase the strength of the country, whose interest is paramount.(PTI)

Union ministers, ambassadors, leaders of different parties, including former Lok Sabha speaker Shivraj Patil and representatives of the YSR Congress, AIADMK, BJD and the TRS, were in the audience. (PTI)