New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Wednesday that the government had invited all political parties for the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Saturday (May 28) and that “they are allowed to act as per their wisdom”.
This came shortly after nineteen political parties, including the Congress, issued a joint statement saying that they planned to boycott the event.
Addressing a press conference, Shah said, “We should not politicise this issue… let people think and react however they want”.
The parties have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to inaugurate the Parliament building himself and “completely sidelining” President Droupadi insults the high office of the President and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
While presenting the Modi government’s nine-year report card, the home minister said that the new Parliament building is a testimony to the latter’s “foresightedness” and long-term vision for India. He said that among the goals that PM Modi had set in the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, was to respect and revive historical traditions.
Shah announced that an ancient relic called ‘Sengol’ which belonged to the legendary Chola dynasty will be placed in the new Parliament building. He stated that the Sengol symbolises spirit of freedom and unbiased governance.
“Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru accepted Sengol at around 10:45 PM of August 14, 1947 through the Adhinam of Tamil Nadu; it was a sign of shift of power from Britishers to the people of our country,” he said.
“Our government believes there is no better place for the sceptre than the Parliament,” he added.
Shah further stated that PM Modi will be honouring all the 60,000 workers who were involved in the construction of the building.
The home minister said that the Parliament building was a “beautiful attempt to connect our cultural heritage, tradition and civilization with modernity in building New India”. Shah added that the building was constructed in “record-time”.
Agencies

KR Desk