The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi today. He also unveiled the G-20 coin and G-20 stamp. The Prime Minister also witnessed the naming ceremony of the Convention Centre as ‘Bharat Mandapam’ carried out via drone and a cultural program that was showcased on the occasion. Visioned by the Prime Minister and developed as a national project at a cost of about Rs 2700 crores, the new IECC complex at Pragati Maidan will help in promoting India as a global business destination.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister initiated his speech with a poem to indicate the new enthusiasm and mood of the nation. He said, “Bharat Mandapam is a call for India’s capabilities and new energy of the nation, it is a philosophy of India’s grandeur and willpower.”
The Prime Minister recalled felicitating the Shramiks this morning and said that the entire nation is impressed after witnessing their hard work and dedication. He congratulated the people of Delhi as well as every Indian for Bharat Mandapam. Noting the historic occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the Prime Minister paid tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for India during the Kargil war on behalf of the entire nation.
The Prime Minister elaborated that behind the name ‘Bharat Mandapam’ there is the inspiration of ‘Anubhav Mandapam’ of Bhagwan Basaveshwara. He said that Anubhav Mandapam represented the tradition of debate and expression. He reminded that India is acknowledged as the mother of democracy. He cited many historical and archaeological instances in this regard. “This Bharat Mandapam is a beautiful gift by us Indians to our democracy as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Independence”, he added. He said the entire world will witness India’s strides and growing stature from here when the G20 Summit takes place in a few weeks from now at the venue.