Nirmala urges Oppn not to boycott new Par bldng inauguration, appeals to them to attend it

Chennai, May 25 (FN Representative) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman todayurged the Opposition parties not to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi andattend it by respecting the ‘House of Democracy. Addressing a press conference at Raj Bhavan in the presence of TamilNadu Governor and his Telangana and Nagaland counterparts and UnionMinister L.Murugan on the sacred Sengol to be installed in the newParliament, she said the Opposition leaders may not like the Prime Minister. “The Parliament is the House of Democracy. The Opposition party leadersshould respect it and attend the inaugural function”, she added. She also asserted that the Union Government holds President Droupady Murmu in high esteem and that the post of President was not a rubber stamp. Ms Nirmala said the Sengol (sceptre) will be installed in the Lok Sabha Speaker’s podium, as a sign of respect and reverence for the democratic institution. “This will be a historic moment for India, as we celebrate our unity and diversity,our heritage and culture, and our freedom and responsibilities”, she added. “On May 28, during the inauguration of the new Parliament building, the historicevent of Aug 14, 1947 will be recreated. Adheenams will hand over the sameSengol to the Prime Minister in a special ceremony with Oduvars will recite Thevaram and Nadaswara vidwans”, she said.

Appealing to the Opposition to re-consider their boycott decision, the Union Finance Minister said the Prime Minister will honour the brothers from VummudiBangaru, who made the sceptre, on the occasion. She said the Sengol is a national treasure with a deep link to Tamil Nadu and India’s freedom. It is a Chola tradition of righteous rule. The Sengol confers the “order” (“aanai” in Tamil) to rule justly and fairly. The Sengol indicates India’s Freedom and it symbolises the power transformation from the British. Stating that the Prime Minister will be making Tamil Nadu and its people proudby installing the Sengol near the Speaker’s podium, Ms Nirmala said the Segol would be India’s symbol for the next 100 years.Asserting that there was no politics to do in this, Ms Nirmala said the Lok Sabha Speaker has extended proper invitation to the Opposition party leders. “The Opposition parties should reconsider this boycott decision…Those whostrongly criticised the President are now demanding that the same Presidentshould inaugurate the new Parliament building. At least for the weflare of thepeople, the Opposition parties should participate in the inauguration”, she said. Ms Nirmala also highlighted about the specially-created website which showcases Sengol’s significance for India’s independence and its link with Tamil Nadu The Prime Minister will adopt the Sengol as the symbol for ‘Amrit Kaal’, capturingthe spirit of August 14/15, 1947.

He will also honour the contribution of Tamil Naduto India’s history and culture, she added. The Sengol is a national treasure with a deep link to Tamil Nadu and India’s freedom.It is a Chola tradition of righteous rule. The Sengol confers the “order” (“aanai” inTamil) to rule justly and fairly. Ms Nirmala said 20 ‘aadeenams’ from Tamil Nadu have been invited for the inauguration of the new Parliament building.Tamil Nadu has a ‘big proud part’ to the episode of handing over of the Sengol(sceptre) to the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, symbolising the powertransfer from the British to the people of India in 1947. This was done on the advice of the Tiruvavduthurai adheenam after the late CR Rajagopalachari discussed it with the Shaivite pontiff following Nehru’sconsultations with him. ‘The Aadeenams will attend the event, there will be Oduvars (scholars in Shaivite scriptures and hymns) who will recite the Thevaram. In 1947 also the Sengol was handed over to Nehru when othuvargal recited Kolaru Pathigam,’ she said.