New Parliament inauguration: PM Modi installs sacred 'Sengol'; pics emerge
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday in a grand ceremony to mark a milestone shift to a new complex in New Delhi. After he arrived at 7:30am, a puja was conducted, and Modi installed the historic scepter "Sengol" near the Lok Sabha speaker's chair. It was handed over to him by Dharmapuram Adheenam seers from Chennai ahead of Sunday's ceremony.
Why does this story matter?
The new Parliament's inauguration has become the latest point of contention between the opposition and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While opposition parties argued the president should inaugurate it being the highest constitutional authority, the BJP maintained the president isn't a member of either House. The inauguration date has also been questioned because it coincides with the birthday of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar.
Watch: Modi places Sengol near LS speaker's seat
Know about India's new Parliament building
The triangular-shaped four-story building has 64,500 square meters of built-up area. It has three main gates, namely Shakti Dwar, Karma Dwar, and Gyan Dwar, and separate entries for visitors, VIPs, and MPs. The new building can accommodate 300 members in the Rajya Sabha chamber and 888 in the Lok Sabha. For a joint sitting, 1,280 MPs can be seated in the Lok Sabha chamber.
Visuals from outside new Parliament building
Proud moment for all of us: Mandaviya
Ahead of Sunday's inauguration ceremony, BJP leader and Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya termed it a proud moment for the world's largest democracy. "It is a proud moment for all of us today that after independence, the world's oldest and largest democracy is getting a new Parliament that is made in the country," Mandaviya told the news agency ANI.
Here's what Mandaviya said
Know about parties attending today's inauguration
While 19 opposition parties have boycotted the inauguration, many others like Janata Dal (Secular), Bahujan Samaj Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Biju Janata Dal, Telugu Desam Party, and YSR Congress Party confirmed they would attend the event. These seven non-NDA parties have 50 MPs in the Lok Sabha and will help the ruling saffron brigade save face.
Security beefed up in Delhi amid wrestlers' protest
Meanwhile, security has been tightened in Delhi ahead of a march by the protesting wrestlers toward the new Parliament. Thet have been demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations for over a month. On Saturday, the agitating wrestlers confirmed they had decided to hold a women's mahapanchayat in front of the new building.
Know about measures taken by Delhi Police
As per ANI, the Delhi Police has put up numerous barricades near ITO Road, the Singhu border, and the Tikri border area as khap panchayat leaders and farmers are also set to join the protesting wrestlers' march. The police have also confirmed that protesters will not be allowed to move toward the new Parliament as permission was not given to hold the women's mahapanchayat.
