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The new Parliament building was opened by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28th May 2023. As many as 20 political parties opposing the move stayed away from the inaugural function. The main charge of the opposition is that the new building must have been opened by the President who is the head of the Parliament as well as the first citizen of the country. The charge levelled is meaningful on the premise that the Vedic rituals performed in the opening ceremony cannot be performed by a woman. Besides, a widow doesn’t have that right to participate in the function as per Vedic belief; a blatant belief in the practice of Hindutva agenda. The ruling BJP had staked its claim while nominating a scheduled tribe woman to the highest office in the country. It only remains symbolic. The head of the three wings of the Indian armed forces was not invited to open the new Parliament House. It is unbecoming of a democratic republic.
The Parliament House is not restricted to the ruling party alone. The opposition side is significant in a democratic polity. Besides, our polity is secular – non-religious in its governance. Whereas, projection and importance was given only to a sect of Hindu religion. The religious mutt heads handed over a Golden Sengol (sceptre), a symbol in royal kingdoms, to the prime minister. The exercise is completely irrelevant to democratic system wherein the ultimate sovereignty rests with the people. The ruling power is being given to the rulers by the people through election process. No other means of power handing over, even if symbolic, is permissible in a democracy. It is highly unbecoming of a secular, sovereign country.
The interior projections in the House have also been executed as per the Hindutva traditions. In the entrance itself the mural of Chanakya has been vividly projected. What is the connection of Chanakya who wrote codes of governance for the monarch of his times and the present Indian Constitution which emphasises Liberty, Equality and Fraternity among the citizens of the country? Chanakya’s codes are diagonally opposite to the Constitutional provisions.
The wall engravings and the display of certain pictures depict the mythical scenes. For instance, the battle between the Devas and Asuras by using the mythical snake as churner is nothing but discrimination and injustice against the toiling sections. The diverse and multicultural country is projected as if it is a monocultural entity. Undue prominence is given to Sanskrit which is one among the 22 languages mentioned in the VIII Schedule of the Constitution. Sanatanic values have been upheld in the quotes, inscribed in the wall paintings and other pictures.
The archaeological evidences prove that the civilisation of the sub-continent commenced from Indus Valley civilisation. The paintings in the House project the commencement of Vedic culture. Mythology cannot be accepted as history.
The ‘Akhanda Bharat’ pictures displayed show the adjoining countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Burma and Sri Lanka as a single political entity. It is as per the propounding of Hindutva ideals. It will unnecessarily strain the diplomatic relations India is maintaining with the neighbouring countries. The real cultural history of the land is not depicted. The background on the walls is dominated by the picturisation of Sanatana and Sanskrit. It does not depict the real image of the country.
Above all, the opening function had been planned meticulously on 28th May i.e. the birthday of V.D.Savarkar, who founded and advocated Hindutva. The saffron rulers think that Parliament House is their personal belonging. The entire edifice with the interiors is about Rs. 200 crores worth. The financial scale of this is high for a country like ours with sizable population living below the poverty line. There is nothing wrong in the comments of opposition that the event is self-glorification and a coronation!
