Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bowing and touching by head the Parliament building steps during his maiden visit had drawn the attention of the whole country, with the gesture receiving high appreciation, about 13 years earlier Kalahandi Congress MP Subash Nayak was the first to set the precedent.
When he was elected to the lok Sabha in 1991 and was entering to the Parliament hall for the first time, he laid prostrate and saluted the steps since he considered the Parliament as a temple of democracy. During that time, Nayak’s act had created a flutter, but the media had taken it in a positive way.“People say prayer to lord Ganesh or Saraswati when they start any new venture. Players bow down and salute the playground before a match starts. I had saluted the Parliament in the same spirit for the development of my backward constituency and Odisha,” said Nayak.