New Delhi: Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday for remembering Jawaharlal Nehru’s historic “Tryst with Destiny” speech in his last address at the old Parliament House the day before.
Kharge was addressing a joint session of both Houses in the Central Hall of the Old Parliament Tuesday morning before proceedings moved to the new Parliament building.
The Congress leader also repeated Nehru’s famous speech — delivered in the old building on the eve of Independence — as he upheld the need to protect institutions and for parties to rise above politics to develop the nation.
Kharge said: “The Central Hall was witness to Pandit Nehru’s ‘tryst with destiny’ speech on the eve of India’s Independence… Yesterday, the PM mentioned it in his speech. I’m thankful to him that he remembered this historic speech on yesterday’s occasion.”
In the last full day of legislative business in the old Parliament on Monday, the Prime Minister remembered the legacy and import of the building, stating that the echo of Jawaharlal Nehru’s midnight speech “would continue to inspire” the country.
Kharge paid his own tribute to Parliament on Tuesday, saying its greatness was due to the “collective and dedicated efforts of Parliamentarians cutting across party lines”.
“This rich legacy has formed a strong foundation for India’s growth as a powerful democratic nation. Every nook and corner of Parliament House has witnessed the evolution of our parliamentary democracy for the past 75 years,” the Congress chief said.
“As we bid adieu to the old Parliament House today and move to the new Parliament, I’m overwhelmed with emotion and a tinge of pathos. We would, of course, be continuing our parliamentary duties in the new parliament building but will miss this building,” he added.
Kharge further said that sacrosanct institutions were the “fundamental principles” behind democratic success in governance and development.
The Opposition leader said: “We should commit ourselves to adhere to preserving the connotational values and traditions as the country moves ahead in effectively performing parliamentary duties and in our endeavour for the growth of our nation. To build this country – forgetting political parties – we should be one to build the nation, to protect the Constitution and protect democracy. This must be our aim.”
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