Published Jul 11, 2022 | 4:56 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 25, 2022 | 11:42 AM
PM Modi unveils national emblem at op the new parliament building. (PTI)
Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the national emblem cast on the roof of the new parliament building in New Delhi on Monday, 11 July, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi slammed him for “violating constitutional norms”.
“Constitution separates powers of parliament, govt & judiciary. As head of govt, @PMOIndia shouldn’t have unveiled the national emblem atop the parliament building (sic),” he commented on Twitter.
“Speaker of Lok Sabha represents LS which isn’t subordinate to govt. @PMOIndia has violated all constitutional norms,” he tweeted.
The CPI(M) also hit out at the BJP, saying that the unveiling of the national emblem should not have been linked to a religious event.
Targeting the BJP and PM Modi, CPI (M) tweeted, “National Emblem installation should not be linked to religious ceremonies. It is everyone’s emblem not those who have some religious beliefs. Keep religion separate from national functions. (sic)”
Constitution separates powers of parliament, govt & judiciary. As head of govt, @PMOIndia shouldn’t have unveiled the national emblem atop new parliament building. Speaker of Lok Sabha represents LS which isn’t subordinate to govt. @PMOIndia has violated all constitutional norms pic.twitter.com/kiuZ9IXyiv
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) July 11, 2022
The inauguration of the emblem — made of bronze, weighing 9,500 kg and standing 6.5 metres tall — marks the first major milestone ahead of the new building’s scheduled opening later this year.
Authorities have maintained that Parliament’s winter session will be held there.
Officials said the emblem has been cast at the top of the central foyer of the new parliament building, and a steel structure weighing around 6,500 kg has been constructed to support it.
The concept sketch and process of casting the national emblem on the roof of the new parliament building has gone through eight different stages of preparation from clay modelling and computer graphics to bronze casting and polishing, they said.
Modi was joined by Lok Sabha Speaker 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 interacted with workers involved in the building’s construction and told them that they should feel proud of their work. They were making a very big contribution to the nation’s pride, he said.
“I had a wonderful interaction with the Shramjeevis who have been involved in the making of parliament. We are proud of their efforts and will always remember their contribution to our nation,” Modi tweeted.
(With agency inputs)
