- The triangle-shaped Central Vista, the new Parliament building, whose foundation laying ceremony was presided over by the Prime Minister to be constructed at a projected cost of Rs. 971 crores were in the offing for quite some time now. The project is scheduled to be completed by October 2022. People’s seats of power will be equipped with the most modern security and surveillance system. The building is projected to last 150 years and its houses can accommodate 150% more Member of Parliaments with each of the parties, committees, and Members having offices for discharging their responsibilities.
PC: Bimal Patel
- The interior of the new Lok Sabha will have peacock, the national bird, as the theme and the Rajya Sabha will have the national flower lotus as the theme. Besides being earthquake-proof, the building will be eco-friendly consuming significantly less electricity as compared to the present structure. Note that the Supreme Court is hearing the pending pleas challenging the construction and demolition associated with the new building. The Apex Court allowed foundation stone laying ceremony only after the government assured no construction/demolition work will be undertaken till the pleas are heard on the matter.
- Move to construct the new building is necessitated as the delimitation exercise after 2026 will see a greater number of elected parliamentarians as the present structure will prove to be inadequate in accommodating increased representatives. Keeping in line with the population increase and commensurate rise in the people’s elected legislatures would be fulfilled by the new Central Vista. As is its won’t, the opposition parties led by the Grand Old Party have already raised a red flag denunciating the government’s move as an ostentatious measure amidst the economic downturn and distress afflicting the country.
PC: traders
- And most ludicrously, the Indian National Congress has berated the ruling government by accusing the Prime Minister of not only building a palace for himself but also pandering to whims while the farmers are protesting over the three controversial farm laws. While the Congress boycotted the function, the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh graciously sent in his good wishes that were announced from the stage. Opposing for the sake of opposing does not cut much ice with the discerning people and besmirching the Prime Minister at every given opportunity only manages to show the Congress party in poor light.
- Nobody in their right senses would dispute the fact that the agitating farmers are democratically demanding their grievances to be heard and the ruling dispensation is keeping all channels of communication open facilitating dialogue. Linking construction of a defining new democratic structure, calling names, and deriding the Head of the Government with personal attacks does not bring glory to the nation’s oldest party. Better discourse is expected. And yes, the Central Vista would be historical and will emerge as the pride of the nation.
