On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a bronze statue of the national emblem of India. The unveiling of the new sculpture took place after a special ceremony and prayers. The occasion was attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Union Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
The emblem is 6.5 metres tall and weighs 9,500 kilograms. Its weight is such that a supporting structure of steel weighing around 6,500 kg has been constructed to support the statue. It was built by artists Sunil Deore and Lakshman Vyas. The construction of the emblem is the culmination of nine months of labour by over a hundred artisans in Jaipur, Aurangabad and Delhi. Although the initial design for the parliament building included a spire on top, this was soon replaced with the current design.
