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The four-storey building, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 970 crore, has been designed by Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management and constructed by Tata Projects Limited.
Security has been tightened in Lutyens’ Delhi ahead of the inauguration ceremony today, which will be attended by several eminent personalities. Police has already issued a traffic advisory that New Delhi district will be treated as a containment zone for this period and entry of vehicles will be restricted.
The Parliament House is located in a high security area. Police said apart from additional deployment, constant surveillance is being done with CCTV cameras.
While around 20 parties have announced a boycott of the ceremony, agitating wrestlers, who are demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for allegedly sexually assaulting seven women wrestlers, They are threatening to hold a protest meeting in front of the building. Today.
schedule of opening ceremony
As per the schedule, the first phase of the program will begin at 7:30 am with havan and puja (worship) near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Other dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha will be present during the ceremony.
After this, between 8:30 am and 9:00 am, Sengol will be installed next to the Speaker’s chair in the Lok Sabha.
There will be a prayer meeting at 9:30 am, which will be attended by Shankaracharya, scholars, pundits and saints. Adi Shiva and Adi Shankara can also be worshiped during this prayer meeting.
The second phase of the program will begin at around 12 noon with the national anthem followed by the screening of two short films.
Thereafter, the messages of the Vice President and the President will be read out by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will also deliver a speech and a commemorative coin and postage stamp will be released during the event.
The program will conclude with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address, which is scheduled at around 2:30 pm.
BSP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), YSR Congress, BJD and TDP are the seven non-NDA parties. The presence of these seven parties with 50 MPs in the Lok Sabha will be a big relief for the BJP-led NDA. His participation will also help the NDA counter the opposition’s allegation that it is all a government programme.
Nineteen opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, Samajwadi Party (SP) and AAP jointly announced a boycott, saying they did not find value in a new building when “the soul of democracy has been sucked out”. Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said that if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new parliament building, his party will not attend the event.
Who is attending and who is not?
At least 25 parties are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building today, while 20 opposition parties, including the Congress, have decided to boycott the event.
Those participating include seven non-NDA parties, including the BSP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), YSR Congress, BJD and TDP, which have 50 MPs in the Lok Sabha. His participation will also help the NDA counter the opposition’s allegation that it is all a government programme.
Nineteen opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, Samajwadi Party (SP) and AAP jointly announced a boycott, saying they did not find value in a new building when “the soul of democracy has been sucked out”. Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said that if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new parliament building, his party will not attend the event.
The BRS is also unlikely to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building. BRS sources said the party may not attend the inauguration. However, the reason is not known. The party is silent on this issue.
Opposition criticized for boycotting the ceremony
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri hit out at the Congress and others calling for the boycott, saying the “boycott gang” was insulting the legacy of its own leaders and freedom fighters. In a series of tweets, Puri referred to an old Time magazine article published in 1947, which he said is a must read for those who wish they had built a grand new Parliament instead of Prime Minister Modi.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also termed the boycott decision as ‘unfortunate’ and said there should be a limit to doing politics. He said that the inauguration of the new Parliament House should be celebrated as a festival by the whole country.
Opposition parties argue that President Draupadi Murmu should be respected as she is not only the head of state but is also an integral part of Parliament as she summons, prorogues and addresses the institution.
A group of 270 eminent citizens, including former bureaucrats, ambassadors and veterans, also condemned the opposition parties for their decision and claimed that all “family first” parties have come together to boycott all who represent India.