Parliament Live Updates: Addressing the Lok Sabha on the first day of the Special Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the legacy of the old Parliament building will be remembered for generations to come.
Watch Lok Sabha LIVE here:
Talking about the shift to the new Parliament building that will happen on Tuesday, 19 September, PM Modi said: "It is true that the decision to construct this building was taken by foreign rulers but we can never forget and can proudly say that the toil, the hard work and the money that went into the construction was that of my countrymen."
"This Parliament shed tears when it lost three prime ministers during their tenure – Lal Bahadur Shastri ji, Indira Gandhi ji, and Jawahar Lal Nehru ji. When their tenure were cut short, this House shed tears," PM Modi said.
Meanwhile, Congress chief and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikajun Kharge targeted the government in a 30-minute long address.
"If there is no strong Opposition, it is not right. Now that there is a strong Opposition, focus is on weakening it through ED and CBI. Take them (into their own party), put them in a washing machine and when they come out all clean - make them permanent (in one's own party). You can see what is happening today," he said.
Addressing the media ahead of the five-day special session, PM Modi earlier said that even though the duration of the session is short, it will be one of "historic decisions."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media on the first day of the Special session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Monday, 18 September, 2023. Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Muraleedharan are also seen.
(Photo: PTI)
As the Session began, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar hailed the success of the G20 Summit hosted by India.
Parliamentarians also bid heartfelt farewell to the old Parliament building as the proceedings will officially move to the new one from Tuesday.
The Opposition slammed the Centre over the special session, claiming that the former was not consulted before the announcement of the session.
Several parties also expressed dismay over the timing of the session as it overlaps with Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
Scores of MPs from the Opposition said that the government must pass the Women's Reservation Bill.
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day, both Houses will reconvene in the new Parliament building on Tuesday.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
Rajya Sabha Adjourned
The proceedings of Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day, possibly for the last time in the old Parliament building, by Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankar.
The Upper House will reconvene at 2:15 pm on Tuesday, 19 September, in the new Parliament building.
Lok Sabha Adjourned
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned proceedings for the day, possibly for the last time in the old Parliament building.
The Lower House will reconvene in the new Parliament building at 1:15 pm on Tuesday, 19 September, he said.
'Give Me Back My Parliament': TMC MP Derek O'Brien
"Give me back my parliament, give me back my parliament which is not mocked, give me back my parliament which is not undermined, give me back my parliament where prime ministers come and answer questions on the floor of Lok Sabha and on the floor of Rajya Sabha..." said Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien, while addressing the Rajya Sabha.
"On a personal note, we may be going to the new building [...] but so many bonds, so many friendships, so many crossing of ideological barriers, so many times we've condoled with colleagues from different parties who've lost loved ones, or celebrated the births of grandchildren. We used to do this in Central Hall, sir give me back my Parliament. Let's go to the new Parliament but keep our Central Hall alive. Give me back my India, give me back my Bharat..." he continued.
'Important to Remember Failures of Governments': Owaisi
"As we remember the 75 years of Independence, it is also necessary to remember the failures of successive governments. First was the anti-Sikh genocide of 1984. Second was the demolition of Babri masjid on 6 December 1992. The destruction of silk business in Bhagalpur, the riots in Muzaffarnagar and Gujarat, the destruction of humanity in Mumbai," Asaduddin Owaisi said in the Lok Sabha.
He also said that if people have to raise voices on the streets, the Parliament will lose its relevance.