Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new Parliament building being built as part of the Central Vista Project on Thursday (December 10).
The rituals of the ‘bhoomi pujan’ at the site of the new Parliament building were performed by the pundits belonging to the Sringeri Math in Karnataka which was followed by a ‘sarva dharma prarthana’ (inter-faith prayer).
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, TATA Trusts Chairman Ratan Tata also offered prayers during the ceremony.
Tata Projects Ltd has been given the contract for the project. “It is an impressive project and I wish it all success. I am privileged to be invited to the foundation stone laying ceremony,” Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman Tata Trusts was quoted saying in a ANI report.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the day as a milestone in India’s democracy. He said that many new facilities are being made available in the new Parliament House, which will increase the efficiency of the MPs and change the work culture.
He said that democracy in India is a way of life and is embedded in the nation’s soul. ” India’s democracy is a system developed through centuries of experience.”, the Prime Minister said.