6.5 metre high bronze statue weighs 9,500 kg; Modi says nation proud of workers who made history

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday unveiled the national emblem installed on the roof of the new Parliament building here in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Made entirely of bronze the national emblem weighs 9,500 kg and is 6.5 metres in height.

The inauguration of the emblem marks the first major milestone ahead of the new building’s scheduled opening, later this year. Authorities have maintained that the Parliament’s Winter Session will be held there. The emblem has been cast at the top of the central foyer of the new Parliament building. A steel structure weighing around 6,500 kg has been constructed to support the emblem.

The concept sketch and process of casting of the national emblem on the roof of the new Parliament building has gone through eight different stages of preparation, from clay modeling and computer graphics to bronze casting and polishing.

Modi was joined by Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri at the inauguration. He also attended a religious ceremony at the site.

The Prime minister also interacted with the workers engaged in the building’s construction and told them that they should feel proud of their work as they are making a very big contribution to the nation’s pride.

“I had a wonderful interaction with the shramjeevis who have been involved in the making of the Parliament. We are proud of their efforts and will always remember their contribution to our nation,” he tweeted.

When a worker expressed joy at his visit to the site and likened it to Lord Ram’s arrival at Shabri’s hut, a reference to the epic Ramayana, Modi said light-heartedly, “Wah, wah, this is your hut!” He then added that every poor person of the country should also feel that this is his hut. “You have said a very good thing,” the Prime Minister said.

When he asked them if they feel that they are making a building or history, they said in a chorus, “History.”

He also asked them about the difference they felt about being part of the construction of the Parliament building and working on some other projects. The group of workers said they felt proud. 

As Modi unveiled the national emblem atop the new Parliament building, the Congress slammed the Modi Government for not inviting Opposition party leaders to the programme.

Former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit said it is good that a new Parliament building is being built in the country but the Centre should invite Opposition leaders as well to the events and functions related to the Parliament.

“Parliament does not belong to a single party, Government or a prime minister... It is a temple of democracy and it belongs to every elected member of Parliament and the party he/she is affiliated to,” he said.

 In a statement, the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) said the prime minister’s action was a “clear violation of the Indian Constitution”.

 It said the Constitution unambiguously separates the three wings of our democracy - the Executive (government), the Legislature (Parliament and state assemblies) and the Judiciary.

   “National Emblem installation should not be linked to religious ceremonies. It is everyone’s emblem. ” CPI (M) tweeted.