New Delhi: The new Parliament building was officially designated the Parliament House of India Tuesday, as all business shifted there in the afternoon after a farewell photocall of legislators at the old, nearly 100-year building.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar were seated in the front row at the photo session, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen perched on the side stairs.
As legislators of both Houses sat packed together, BJP MP Narhari Amin passed out briefly but soon recovered to face the camera.
New building of Parliament to be hereon designated as the Parliament House of India, Gazette notification issued. pic.twitter.com/AmV5InWCdG
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023
Both Houses of Parliament are sitting for a five-day special session from 18-22 September during which Modi has promised some “historic decisions”.
An event was also held at the Central Hall of the old Parliament after the photo-op which started with the rendition of the national anthem.
Several leaders spoke on the occasion, on being fortunate enough “to witness a caravan of historical episodes and numerous momentous events”, as Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury put it.
VIDEO | Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and PM Modi at the event organised in the Central Hall of Parliament on the occasion of the shifting of Parliament to the new building. pic.twitter.com/VAlXryOcoZ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 19, 2023
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said: “Today, we are moving to the new Sansad Bhawan with new aspirations… Today, people have high expectations from us and it increases our responsibility to live up to their expectations and aspirations.”
Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha) Mallikarjun Kharge recalled the “phenomenal contributions” made by the constituent assembly’s Rajendra Prasad, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and B.R. Ambedkar, among others.
Narendra Modi named the many important laws that had been passed in the building, including the abolition of “Triple Talaq” which gave justice to “Muslim mothers and sisters”. He said in the last few years, the Parliament had also bought laws to help transgenders, the specially-abled.
#WATCH | Special Session of Parliament | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "…Muslim mothers and sisters got justice because of this Parliament, law opposing 'triple talaq' was unitedly passed from here. In the last few years, Parliament has also passed laws giving justice to… pic.twitter.com/gnOY7JDtu3
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023
On the old building’s last day on Monday, parliamentarians held forth on the complex’s rich history as India celebrates 75 years of Independence.
#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and other Parliamentarians gather for the joint photo session ahead of today's Parliament Session. pic.twitter.com/burhE7OGX1
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023
The Prime Minister said the building may have been built by “foreign rulers” – British architects Edward Lutyens and Herbert Baker designed it – but was done with the “hard work and money of our countrymen”.
Talking about the building’s legacy, Modi recalled Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” speech and another by Atal Behari Vajpayee in 1996 to demonstrate how it has stood testimony to the strength of India’s democracy.
#WATCH | BJP MP Narhari Amin fainted during the group photo session of Parliamentarians. He has now recovered and is a part of the photo session. pic.twitter.com/goeqh9JxGN
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023
He said: “From Rajendra Prasad to Ram Nath Kovind to Droupadi Murmu, this Parliament received their guidance. This Parliament also witnessed the time of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh who gave direction to this country.”
In this special session, there will be a discussion on “Parliamentary journey of 75 years starting from ‘Samvidhan Sabha’ — achievements, experiences, memories and learnings” besides other legislative business.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, hanging fire for 27 years, will also be introduced in the Lok Sabha, a minister announced Monday night after a meeting of the Union Cabinet.
The contentious CEC Bill, which gives more say to the central government in the appointment of election commissioners in the country, will also be discussed.