The five-day “Amrit Kaal” session of the Indian Parliament began with a gathering of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs in the Central Hall. The session aims to commemorate the rich legacy of India’s Parliament and resolve to transform the nation into a developed country by 2047.
Below are the highlights of the special parliament session:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the discussion by expressing nostalgia for the Parliament building’s 75-year history. He shared his memories of entering the building for the first time and highlighted the significance of the old Parliament House, emphasizing its construction through the hard work and contributions of Indian citizens.
- PM Modi also noted India’s achievements, including the success of the Chandrayaan-2 mission and the G20 Summit.
- He emphasized the historical importance of the Parliament building, citing Pandit Nehru’s iconic “stroke of midnight hour” speech, which continues to inspire generations. However, he also acknowledged that the Parliament witnessed controversies like the ‘cash for votes’ scam during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tenure.
- Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla addressed the technical glitch that resulted in the National Anthem being played twice during the session. He assured that the issue would be investigated and discussed the successful conduct of the G20 summit.
- A gathering of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs took place in Central Hall, focusing on commemorating Parliament’s legacy and pledging to develop India by 2047. The event includes a photo session.
- After the Central Hall function, the session will move to the new parliament building. A small puja may be held as it coincides with Ganesh Chaturthi. Legislative business for this session includes bills such as the Post Office Bill, the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, and the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill.
- Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar raised the national flag at the new building, joined by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge were absent due to other commitments.
- In an evening all-party meeting, several regional parties, including Biju Janata Dal and Bharat Rashtra Samithi, advocated for the women’s reservation bill’s introduction. Opposition leaders labeled the special session as a “diversionary tactic” by the BJP and called for prioritizing pressing issues.
- Earlier, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had written to PM Modi, highlighting nine critical issues, including the violence in Manipur and protests by wrestlers, for discussion during the special session.
- The special parliamentary session marks a significant moment in India’s legislative history as it reflects on its past while preparing for a transformative future.
