New Delhi: In his final address from the venerable old parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed its new appellation as “Samvidhan Sadan” or “Constitution House.” Subsequently, he led all Members of Parliament on a symbolic march to the newly inaugurated parliament building, which now officially serves as India’s seat of governance.
The Prime Minister noted the auspiciousness of the occasion, occurring on Ganesh Chaturthi, a significant Hindu festival. Addressing the speakers of both houses, seated beside him, PM Modi put forth a request.
“I appeal to you, and I hope you will consider it after deliberation. As we transition to the new parliament building today, we should ensure that the dignity of this historic edifice endures. Let us not merely refer to it as the ‘old parliament.’ I beseech you, with your permission, to designate this building as ‘Samvidhan Sadan.’ By doing so, we connect this structure with the memories of the great individuals who once convened here in the Constituent Assembly. This act shall be a gift to future generations,” expressed PM Modi.
The iconic old parliament building, a creation of British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, reached its 96th year and was found lacking in fulfilling modern requirements over time.
In a speech delivered in the Lok Sabha the previous day, PM Modi paid homage to “every brick” of the historic edifice and underlined that MPs would enter the new building with “new hope and confidence.”
Government sources have disclosed that the old building will not face demolition but will instead undergo “retrofitting” to adapt its spaces for parliamentary functions. Speculations also suggest that a section of the old structure might be transformed into a museum.
Sources within the government have affirmed, “The historic structure will be preserved as it constitutes an archaeological asset of the nation.”
