'Golden moment' for India as Narendra Modi opens new parliament building

Prime Minister says state-of-the-art legislature 'a symbol of 1.4 billion people and their expectations and dreams'

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the new parliament building in New Delhi on May 28. AP

Mr Modi prays before the ceremony for the triangular $120 million building. AP

Hindu priests hand over a royal golden sceptre to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to be installed near the chair of the speaker during the start of the inaugural ceremony of the new parliament building, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, 28 May 2023. The new triangular parliament building, built at an estimated cost of $120 million, is part of a $2. 8 billion revamp of British-era offices and residences in central New Delhi called "Central Vista", even as India's major opposition parties boycotted the inauguration, in a rare show of unity against the Hindu nationalist ruling party that has completed nine years in power and is seeking a third term in crucial general elections next year. (AP Photo)

The building is part of a $2.8 billion revamp of British-era offices and residences in central New Delhi. AP

India's major opposition parties boycotted the inauguration. AP

Mr Modi lights a lamp as speaker of the lower house Om Birla watches. AP

Mr Modi greets Hindu priests. AP

Outside India's new parliament building. Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated New Delhi's new parliament building in what he said was a reflection of a “new India”.

The inauguration began early in the morning with elaborate Hindu rituals followed by a multi-faith ceremony in which about 60 clerics from various other religions, including Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Judaism and Buddhism, took part.

“I congratulate the citizens of the country on this golden moment,” Mr Modi said later during his first address in the new legislature building.

“This is not just a building but is a symbol of 1.4 billion people and their expectations and dreams. It is the temple of our democracy,”

“New patterns are created only by walking on new paths. This new parliament will become a witness to the rise of a self-reliant India.”

Members of parliament from 25 parties gathered in the new building for the afternoon address. Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla and Harivansh Narayan Singh, deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha – the lower and upper houses of parliament – also spoke.

Former president Ram Nath Kovind, Supreme Court judges and several foreign diplomats were also present.

Nineteen opposition parties, including the Congress party, boycotted the event in protest over Mr Modi's decision to inaugurate the new building himself. They said President Droupadi Murmu should have been asked to do so as the head of state.

Neither Ms Murmu nor Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar were present at the ceremony, but their speeches were read out by Mr Singh.

The morning ceremony also drew controversy over the installation by Mr Modi of a 1.5 metre golden sceptre called “Sengol” in the chamber of the Lok Sabha.

The government said the sceptre was presented by Britain to India's first post-independence prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to mark the transfer of power in 1947.

Opposition parties questioned this, saying it was given to Nehru by a religious institution in the southern city of Madras, now Chennai, in Tamil Nadu.

It was kept in a museum in Prayagraj along with other objects related to Nehru and labelled “walking stick”.

The opposition parties also questioned the need to install a symbol of monarchy in the parliament of the world’s largest democracy.

Brushing aside the controversy, Mr Modi said the Sengol was chosen as it symbolises justice, righteousness and good governance.

“This is our fortune that we could restore the dignity of our sacred Sengol. This will inspire us all,” he said.

Short films were screened on the Sengol, the history of India's parliament and the new building. Mr Modi also launched a commemorative 75 rupee coin and a postage stamp.

The new parliament building is a triangular structure spread across 65,000 square metres. It will replace the circular parliament house built 94 years ago by the British.

Mr Modi laid the foundation stone for the new building in December 2020, saying it was a “landmark opportunity to build a people’s parliament for the first time after independence”.

The old building will be turned into a museum.

The government has said the new parliament offers optimal use of space and features larger halls, a modern library, redeveloped offices and committee rooms with state-of-art facilities.

It has been decorated with hand-knotted carpets woven by 900 artisans from Mirzapur in the Uttar Pradesh state, bamboo flooring from Tripura state and stone carvings from Rajasthan state.

The chamber of the Lok Sabha, the 545-seat lower house of India's parliament, will have a capacity for up to 888 seats, while Rajya Sabha – the upper house – will have a capacity for 384 seats as compared with the current 250.

The new parliament is part of Mr Modi’s $2.8 billion Central Vista Redevelopment Project to replace the buildings in Delhi that once served as the seat of power for British rulers.

The project has been criticised by opposition parties, historians, architects and former bureaucrats who say it is an attempt to erase institutional memories and historical buildings.

It includes a new multi-billion-dollar Prime Minister's residence.

Further criticism has been aimed at the government over the high cost of the project and its priorities after it was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic at a time when people were struggling to get oxygen cylinders and admission to overcrowded hospitals.