Modi inaugurates India’s new parliament building, places historic sceptre ‘Sengol’

The new parliament building is located the current colonial-era one and can accommodate more than 1,200 members.

• Shubham
• 28 May, 2023

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By: Shubham Ghosh

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (28) morning inaugurated the country’s new parliament building amid a boycott call by several opposition parties that said that the president, Droupadi Murmu, should have done the honours as the constitutional head of the republic.

Modi reached the new building, the foundation for which was laid in 2020, at 7.30 am local time. He sat down for a puja along with Om Birla, speaker of the Lok Sabha or Lower House of the parliament. After the puja, the prime minister took the historic sceptre ‘Sengol’ from the Adheenam seers who were present at the puja and sought their blessings. He then carried the sceptre to the Lok Sabha chamber of the new parliament and installed it beside the chair of the speaker.

As the new building of India’s Parliament is inaugurated, our hearts and minds are filled with pride, hope and promise. May this iconic building be a cradle of empowerment, igniting dreams and nurturing them into reality. May it propel our great nation to new heights of progress. pic.twitter.com/zzGuRoHrUS

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 28, 2023

This was followed by ‘sarva-dharma’ (all faith) prayers by representatives from various religions.

#MyParliamentMyPride pic.twitter.com/4WK1lhlcu6

— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) May 28, 2023

The new parliament building can comfortably accommodate 888 members in the Lok Sabha chamber and 300 in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) chamber.

For a joint sitting of both the houses, 1,280 parliamentarians can seat in the Lok Sabha chamber.

The material used for the new building has been acquired from various parts of the country.

The Modi government has also unveiled a commemorative ₹ 75 coin to mark the historic event.

Built by Tata Projects Ltd, the new Parliament building spread over an area of 64,500 square metres, has a grand constitution hall to showcase India’s democratic heritage, a lounge for the parliamentarians, multiple committee rooms, a library, dining areas and ample parking slot.