PM Modi's 'New Dawn' Speech, Women’s Reservation Bill Debate: What Happened on 1st Day at New Parliament Building

The second day of the special session of the parliament witnessed a historic moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with other MPs marched to the new parliament building amid chants of ‘Vande Matram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ bidding a final good-bye to the old parliament building that served as the symbol of Indian democracy as well as of its dark colonial past.

Before the official shifting, all Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs posed for one last group photograph at the old parliament building.

During the first day of proceedings in the new Parliament, the prime minister delivered an address making a fiery pitch about the Women’s Reservation Bill,

Here are some key highlights from Day 1 at the New Parliament

PM Modi’s Maiden Address to Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his first speech in the new Lok Sabha chamber as the Leader of the House. In his speech, PM Modi said that in the new Parliament building, all parliamentarians are going to mark a new beginning for a new future.

The prime minister also made a strong case pitch for women-led development in the country, highlighting the various contributions made by women in different sectors and fields. He urged the opposition to pass the ‘Women’s Reservation Bill’ with a heavy majority.

Invoking the Sengol, PM Modi said that it was a symbol of continuity between India’s past and present.

Last Glimpse of Old Parliament Building

In another historic move, members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha posed for a group photograph at the old building. The parliamentarians then gathered in the Central Hall, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Mallikarjun Kharge, and the oldest serving Lok Sabha MP, Maneka Gandhi, delivered speeches.

Token Kits with Constitution Copy, Commemorative Coin for all MPs

All MPs reportedly received a gift bag containing a copy of the Constitution of India, some booklets related to the history and working of the Parliament, a commemorative coin and a stamp on the opening day of the new Parliament building.

Symbol of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’: Says Piyush Goyal

Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said the new Parliament building will become a symbol of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ adding that if the various challenges India faced had been resolved promptly, the country could have become a developed nation before 2047.

Proud To be part of the moment: Longest Serving MP Maneka Gandhi

BJP MP Maneka Gandhi, who is the longest-serving among sitting Lok Sabha MPs, said that she is proud to be part of the moment when the government will be giving women “an equal share in future of India”.

Maneka Gandhi, who has served as minister for women and child development in the past, spoke about the power of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ slogan of the government, and social schemes like Jan Dhan and Ujjwala Yojana, PTI reported.

Constitution Is Bedrock of Indian Democracy: LoP Mallikarjun Kharge

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also addressed MPs from both Houses at Central Hall. “The Constitution of India is the bedrock of Indian democratic polity,” he said during his address.