New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation of the new Parliament building.
Terming the event as a milestone in India’s democratic history, the prime minister said that if the old Parliament house gave direction to India after independence, the new one would shape the path of a self-sufficient, or ‘aatmanirbhar, India.
The day is not far when the world will call India ” mother of democracy” if countrymen portray India’s democratic history, Modi said after the event, adding that Indian democratic traditions predate even the Magna Carta, a 13th century document that is deemed to be the framework for a modern republic.
Modi said the new Parliament building will be an inspiration when India celebrates 75 years of its independence in 2022.
Union cabinet ministers, envoys, leaders of political parties were present. Some opposition leaders gave the event a miss.
Ratan Tata, whose group firm won the bid to build the new complex, was present.
Priests from the Sringeri Math in Karnataka performed the rituals for the ‘bhoomi pujan’ at the site and was followed by an inter-faith prayer.
The new complex, whose construction is scheduled to be completed in 2022, will be built on 64,500 sq.m.