Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the much-awaited new Parliament building on Sunday morning.

The Prime Minister also installed the scared ‘Sengol’ in the Lok Sabha chamber, right next to the Speaker’s chair, after performing puja.

Modi was handed over the historic Sengol by Adheenams before its installed in the new Parliament building.

The ceremony began with a traditional ‘puja’ with Vedic rituals which will continue for an hour. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was also present with along with PM Modi during the puja.

Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah stated that it is the same Sengol that was accepted by the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru at his residence on the night of August 14, in the presence of several leaders.

The four-storey building has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 970 crore. The building has been designed by Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management, and constructed by Tata Projects Limited.

Eralier, at least 20 opposition parties including the Congress have declared to boycott the PM’s decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu.

The opposition had issued a joint statement saying that there was no value in a new building when the “soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament.”

They said that the inauguration of the building without President Droupadi Murmu “insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution”.