Indian lawmakers sat in the last session before moving to a new Parliament building, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call Monday that saw him lauding India’s parliamentary history and the recently concluded Group of 20 summit.
Major opposition parties in May boycotted the inauguration of the new Parliament, calling it extravagant, in a rare show of unity against Modi’s Hindu nationalist ruling party, which has governed for nine years and is seeking a third term in next year’s elections.
The new triangular-shaped building was built at an estimated cost of $120 million. It’s part of a $2.8 billion revamp of British-era offices and residences in central New Delhi that will also include blocks of buildings for government ministries and departments, as well as Modi’s new private residence. The entire project, called the “Central Vista,” is spread over 3.2 kilometers (1.9 miles).
The lawmakers will move into the new building on Tuesday, Speaker Om Birla said.
In his speech in the lower house, Modi feted his government for the G20 summit that saw India forging a compromise among divided world powers on major global issues. He emphasized India’s role in the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 and spoke about last month’s successful lunar mission that saw the country landing a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole.
Modi also spoke about Parliament’s history and some of his government’s major decisions that were taken in the House.
The announcement of the five-day special session last month was criticized by the opposition lawmakers, who said the Modi government had not made its parliamentary agenda public. Last week the government released a “tentative list” that mentioned four bills, including a controversial measure that is expected to change how India’s chief election officer is appointed.
The new building sits just across from the old Parliament, a circular structure designed by British architects in the early 20th century. The new four-story building has a total of 1,272 seats in two chambers, almost 500 more than the previous one.
