Modi inaugrates Surat Diamond Bourse; Pentagon surpassed in terms of size

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Surat Diamond Bourse on 17th December. It is speculated to have surpassed the Pentagon situated in Washington, United States of America (USA) as the world’s largest office building. The Pentagon held the record for 80 years. “Surat Diamond Bourse showcases the dynamism and growth of Surat's diamond industry. It is also a testament to India's entrepreneurial spirit. It will serve as a hub for trade, innovation and collaboration, further boosting our economy and creating employment opportunities,” the Prime Minister had earlier said on the microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter). 

Surat Diamond Bourse showcases the dynamism and growth of Surat's diamond industry. It is also a testament to India’s entrepreneurial spirit. It will serve as a hub for trade, innovation and collaboration, further boosting our economy and creating employment opportunities. https://t.co/rBkvYdBhXv

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)

Surat Diamond Bourse showcases the dynamism and growth of Surat's diamond industry. It is also a testament to India’s entrepreneurial spirit. It will serve as a hub for trade, innovation and collaboration, further boosting our economy and creating employment opportunities. https://t.co/rBkvYdBhXv

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 19, 2023

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This move has been met with a fair amount of scepticism by some of the opposition party leaders. “Those who are in power today do not have the power to think about the country. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the diamond business in Surat. Earlier, diamond trade used to take place in the Bandra Kurla Complex of Mumbai; now it has been shifted from here to Gujarat. Lakhs of people got employment due to this market. Due to the diamond trade going to Surat, the local people will lose their jobs,” the President of the National Congress Party Sharad Pawar stated during a party meeting in Raigad, Maharashtra.