The first day of the special Parliament session opened on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address, where he tipped his hat to the nation's former Prime Ministers, harked back to his first visit to the Parliament and recalled other memorable milestones.
Recollecting the nearly eight-decade journey of the old Parliament building, Modi said that it served as the Imperial Legislative Council prior to India’s independence and was recognised as the Parliament of post-independence India.
“Even though the decision to construct the building was made by foreign rulers, it was the hard work, dedication and money spent by Indians towards its development. We might be shifting to the new building but this building will keep on inspiring the coming generation. As it is a golden chapter of the journey of Indian democracy,” the Prime Minister said.
Looking back on the moment when he entered the Parliament for the first time after being elected as a lawmaker and having paid obeisance by bowing to the building, Modi said that it was an emotional moment, and he could not have imagined that. He further stressed that thanks to the power of India's democracy, a poor child who used to earn a livelihood in a railway station was able to rise so high and join the Parliament.
“I never imagined that the nation would give me this much love, respect and blessings”, he added.
Listing the key milestones of the old Parliament building, Modi also remembered former Prime Ministers like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shashtri, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and ex-Presidents.
“The echo of Nehru ji's Stroke of Midnight speech will inspire us. It is also in this House where Atal Bihari Vajpayee said governments will come and go, but this country will stay,” he noted.
In a tribute to former Presidents, the Prime Minister said, “From Rajendra Prasad to Ram Nath Kovind to Droupadi Murmu, this parliament has received their guidance.”
Talking about Council of Ministers, Speakers of the House and others, Modi said that this is an occasion to remember everyone who has been part of the Parliament's historic journey.
He also referred to the terrorist attack on the Parliament as he said that “it was an attack on the soul of India” and also acknowledged the contributions of those who stood between the terrorists and the House to protect its members and paid tributes to those lionhearted defenders.
Modi also touched upon some of the historic decisions taken inside the House like the abrogation of Article 370, the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the One Rank One Pension and 10 per cent reservation for the poor.
Upon concluding his speech, Modi said that he is hopeful that the members would move to the new building with great zeal and enthusiasm.
The second day's proceedings on Tuesday of the five-day special session of Parliament will be in the new building.
The government has listed eight bills, including a controversial one on the Chief Election Commissioner pick, for debate.