MPs Shift from Old to New Parliament building, Modi’s Emotional Address to Members
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 19: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday delivered yet another emotional speech replete with chapters from history as he addressed the last gathering of Members of Parliament at the historic Central Hall of the old Parliament building during a function to commemorate the rich legacy of Indian Parliament.
The Prime Minister had delivered an emotional address on Monday, on the opening day of the special session to bid farewell to the old Parliament building.
Recalling that it was in this central hall where India’s flag and national anthem were adopted, Mr Modi asserted that world was looking for a “friend” in India. He said India resolved to be among top 3 economies in the world and would make it to top 3.
He said, “The way India’s youth are going forward in the tech space, the world is in awe. India’s aspirations should be a priority. Our canvas has to be bigger, then we can draw a bigger future of the country.”
He said there was a time when people used to question if his government’s ‘Atmanirbhar model’ would become a threat to multilateralism. “But within 5 years, the world started speaking about India’s ‘Atmanirbhar model.”
Pointing out that India has now for the first time become the world most populated country and that too with the greatest youth power, Mr Modi underlined the need for quality of the Indian products. He said the Indian producers should not only vie for becoming the best in the local areas but must work with the mindset of crossing global benchmarks in all sectors. “We must focus on quality to meet the world’s expectations.”
“India is on its way to make its businesses reach the global competition and markets. Knowledge and innovation are needs of the hour. Today, the world is focused on India. India is going forward as ‘Vishwamitra‘. The world is looking for a friend in us. And India is benefiting from this. We are leading the world,” the Prime Minster asserted.
Dressed in colourful attire, members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday got their group photograph clicked in the old Parliament building hours before legislative proceedings shifted to the new Parliament House. Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, flanked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on either side, was seated on the inner courtyard of the old Parliament building.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha member 93-year-old Shafiq-ur-Rahman Barq, veteran leaders Sharad Pawar (NCP) and Farooq Abdullah (NC) and BJP president J.P. Nadda were among those seated in the first row.
Women members turned up in colourful sarees, while most of their male counterparts preferred white kurta-pyjamas with vibrant waist-coats for the photo-session. The early morning session had some anxious moments as BJP Rajya Sabha member Narhari Amin fainted. Mr Shah, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and some leaders rushed to his rescue. Officials were seen offering water to the 68-year-old Amin, who soon joined the group photo.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen standing in the second last row with Manish Tewari for company. Some members were seen squatting on the floor as members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha got their photographs clicked. This was followed by a group photograph of Rajya Sabha members and later, a group photograph of Lok Sabha members.
