National Flag Flies High: VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Raises Tricolour Atop New Parliament's Iconic 'Gaja Dwar'

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar, raised the national flag at the new Parliament building in New Delhi on Sunday (17 September).

Accompanied by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, he proudly hoisted the flag at the top of the "Gaja Dwar" of the new Parliament building.

"It is a historic moment. Bharat is witnessing epochal change. The world is in total recognition of might, power, and contribution of Bharat," VP Dhankhar said after the flag hoisting.

Several Union Ministers, such as Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi, and Arjun Ram Meghwal, were present at the ceremony, along with leaders from various other political parties.

The significant hoisting ceremony took place one day before the commencement of the five-day Parliament session.

This session may witness a shift in parliamentary proceedings from the old building to the adjacent new building.

According to Congress leader Kodikunnil Suresh, "The session on 18th (September) will be held in the old Parliament building, but from 19th (September) onwards, the session will be shifted to the new Parliament building."

Speaking to PTI, Suresh admitted, however, that they didn't "know the agenda for 18th or other days."

Prior to the flag hoisting, both Dhankhar and Birla were honoured with separate guard of honour ceremonies by the CRPF's Parliament Duty Group.

Earlier, the Congress party expressed its dissatisfaction with the delayed invitation extended to Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, for the flag hoisting ceremony at the new Parliament.

The Congress party felt aggrieved as the invitation was sent to Kharge on Friday (15 September) at noon, despite the ceremony being scheduled just two days later on Sunday, which also happens to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.