NEW DELHI (AP) – Indian lawmakers sat in the last session before moving to a new Parliament building and even opposition parties responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call on Monday that saw him praise the parliament’s history. India and the Group of 20 summit ended recently.
Major opposition parties in June rejected the resignation of the new Parliament, calling for the addition, in a rare show of unity against Modi’s Hindu nationalist ruling party, which has ruled for nine years and is seeking a third term in next year’s elections.
The new triangular-shaped building was built at a cost of $120 million. It is part of a $2.8 billion renovation of British-era offices and residences in central New Delhi that will also include blocks of buildings for government agencies and departments, as well as Modi’s new private residence. The entire project, called “Central Vista,” is spread over 3.2 kilometers (1.9 miles).
Lawmakers will move into the new house on Tuesday, Speaker Om Birla said.
In his speech at the lower house, Modi accepted his government for the G20 summit he saw India advocated an alliance between the divided world powers on important world issues. He emphasized India’s role in these the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 and he said about the last month successful lunar mission who saw the country landing a plane near the moon’s south pole.
“India’s power ensured consensus on the G20 declaration,” Modi said.
Modi also talked about the history of the Parliament and some important decisions of his government taken in the House.
The announcement of the five-day special session last month was criticized by opposition lawmakers, who said the Modi government had not made its parliamentary agenda public. Last week the government released a “tent list” that mentioned four bills, including a controversial measure that is expected to change how India’s election chief is elected.
The new building sits across from the old Parliament House, a circular structure designed by English architects in the early 20th century. The new four-story building has a total of 1,272 seats in two rooms, almost 500 more than the previous one.
