New Parliament Building Inauguration LIVE: BJP Shares US Magazine's 1947 Article on Sengol Amid Cong Attack; SC Rejects Plea on Opening by Prez

Speaking on the boycott by some opposition parties of the inauguration of the new parliament building, NDPP leader TR Zeliang on Friday said whoever inaugurates the building is not important and that everyone should appreciate the building of a new parliament in such a short span of time.

“Everyone should appreciate the building of the new Parliament and I congratulate the Govt of India for the concept. Whoever will inaugurate is not important. A new building is to come up and a new development has taken place in such a short span of time,” he said.

Speaking on former PM  and JD(S) leader Deve Gowda’s decision to participate in the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Karnataka State Congress President DK Shivakumar on Friday said he doesn’t want to comment on Kumaraswamy.

“He (Kumaraswamy) should not forget people have boycotted him in elections,” DKS said.

Former Karnataka CM and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy on Friday rained down on Congress for questioning former PM Deve Gowda’s decision to participate in the inauguration of the new Parliament building and said, “We are not slaves of Congress and will take our own decision. Why do we need to follow Congress?”

According to an Economic Times report, the old parliament building, an almost a century-old structure, was increasingly being found to be unable to service the government’s present-day requirements. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed resolutions to construct a new building for the Parliament.

The new parliament building which took less than three years to complete, is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on Sunday, May 28.

The new parliament building will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, May 28. The inaugural ceremony will commence at 7:30 am with a havan (a ritualistic fire ceremony) and puja (worship) near the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking inauguration of the new parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu. Justice JK Maheshwari pulled up petitioner Advocate C R Jaya Sukin and said, “Its not the function of the court to look into this.”

The Supreme Court on Friday heard a plea seeking directions to have the new Parliament building inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu and said it is not inclined to entertain the petition.

Petitioner Advocate C R Jaya Sukin argued before the court that the President is the head of the state and that the head of executive does not have the powers over Parliament.

“We know why you file such petitions. We are not inclined to entertain this petition,” the top court said.

A hearing in the Supreme Court on a plea seeking directions to the Lok Sabha Secretariat to have the new Parliament building inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu is underway.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday slammed the Congress over the row involving the installation of the ‘Sengol’ (scepter) in the new parliament building.

“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 symbolize India’s freedom but it was banished to a museum as a ‘walking stick’,” he tweeted.

The new parliament building is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, May 28. The program will commence at 7:30 am with a havan (a ritualistic fire ceremony) and puja (worship) near the Mahatma Gandhi statue. The event will include puja, installation of the ‘Sengol’, screening of two short films and release of a commemorative coin and stamp.

The new parliament building is located at Sansad Marg, Gokul Nagar, Janpath, Connaught Place in New Delhi.

Built at a cost of Rs 971 crore, the new Parliament building will house larger chambers for the legislature. The new Lok Sabha, based on India’s national bird peacock, will have a capacity of up to 888 seats.

Based on India’s national flower ‘Lotus’, the new Rajya Sabha has the capacity of up to 384 seats. The Lok Sabha Hall will be able to accommodate up to 1,272 members at a time for joint sessions, according to centralvista.gov.in.

The political row surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s May 28 inauguration of India’s new Parliament building has been escalating. An increasing number of opposition parties, currently standing at 21, have announced their decision to boycott the grand occasion. But why? READ MORE

Jacob Khaling of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) on Friday said the party supports the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, May 28.

“We support the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28th May. The new Parliament has been built by the Centre in record time. Our only MP Indra Hang Subba also has the same stand. SKM congratulates PM Modi for this achievement,” he said.

DMK launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led government over not inviting President Murmu at the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building and asked if it was because she belonged to a tribal community.

“The inauguration of new Parliament building- is held without inviting the President, who is the head of both Houses of Parliament. Did the designation of President become ineligible? Are they humiliating President as she is from Tribal community? Are they humiliating her as she is a woman? This is the humiliation of India’s democracy and constitution,” said a statement by DMK spokesperson.

Speaking to ANI on the row over the inauguration of the new parliament building by PM Modi, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday stressed that the event should not be politicised. He appealed to all parties who have boycotted the event to rethink their decision.

“The new building of the Parliament is going to be inaugurated on 28th May. No one should politicise this, the new Parliament is a symbol of democracy and the aspiration of all Indians. It is my appeal to all parties who have decided to boycott the inauguration of the Parliament that they should rethink their decision,” he said.

Speaking on the political row over the inauguration of the new parliament building, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut asked why was no invitation given to President Murmu and former President Kovind for the event. “This issue is a matter of respect for the President and the Constitution. No invitation is given to the President, not even to the former President. Why? It’s not a party event,” Raut said.

TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday said the party ‘strongly’ protests against the Narendra Modi-led government for not inviting President Droupadi Murmu to the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

“Can you imagine that the president of India has not been invited to the inauguration of the new Parliament building? Because she is a representative of the SC/ST community? Her name is not on the invitation,” Banerjee was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

“This is not done. We strongly protest against this. The BJP cannot get away with doing whatever it likes,” Banerjee said at a rally in Purulia.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday said there was no evidence supporting claims that the sceptre was described as a symbol of the transfer of British power to India. “All claims to this effect are bogus. Wholly and completely manufactured in the minds of a few and dispersed into WhatsApp, and now to the drum-beaters in the media,” he tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi is all set to inaugurate the new parliament building by installing the 77-year-old Sengol (sceptre). The central government’s decision to bring the Sengol back to the national capital sparked a debate and discussion about the BJP’s Tamil outreach. READ MORE

“As the Parliament building is being inaugurated on May 28,the Press Club of India would like to draw attention of @loksabhaspeaker towards the continuous and unrelenting restrictions imposed on entry of journalists covering Parliament over the last several sessions,” tweeted the Press Club of India.