Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the national emblem cast on the roof of the new Parliament building in New Delhi on Monday.
The inauguration of the emblem, which is made of bronze and weighs 9,500 kg and stands 6.5 meters tall, is the first major milestone before the new building’s scheduled opening later this year.
Authorities have stated that the Winter session of Parliament will be held there.
Officials said the emblem was cast at the top of the new Parliament building’s central foyer, and a steel supporting structure weighing around 6,500 kg was built to support it.
According to them, the concept sketch and process of casting the national emblem on the roof of the new Parliament building went through eight different stages of preparation, beginning with clay modeling and computer graphics and ending with bronze casting and polishing.
At the inauguration, Modi was joined by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh. He also went to a religious ceremony at the location.
The prime minister also spoke with workers involved in the building’s construction, telling them they should be proud of their efforts. They are making a significant contribution to national 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,” he tweeted.
When a worker expressed joy at his visit to the site and likened it to Lord Ram’s arrival at Shabri’s hut, a reference to epic Ramayana, Modi said light-heartedly, “Wah, wah, this is your hut!” He then added that every poor person of the country should also feel that this is his hut. “You have said a very good thing,” the prime minister said.
When he asked them if they feel that they are making a building or history, they said in a chorus, “History”.
He also inquired about the differences they perceived between being a part of the Parliament building’s construction and working on other projects. The workers expressed pride in their work at the new Parliament building.
Modi inquired about their health and whether they had received COVID-19 vaccinations.