FILE
Staff Reporter
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has urged the political parties to participate in inaugural function of new Parliament Building.
The Prime Minister will dedicate the newly constructed Parliament building to the Nation on 28th of this month.
Talking to media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Mr Joshi expressed displeasure on the decision of several opposition parties which have announced to not take part in the inaugural function. He said, this is a historical event and it is not the time of politics.
19 Opposition parties to boycott inauguration of new Parliament building
Several opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28.
As many as 19 Opposition parties — including the Congress — 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.”
Their primary objection is against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, “completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu”, which the Opposition said was not only “a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy, which demands a commensurate response”.
The signatories include the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena (Udhav Thackeray), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India, Indian Union Muslim League, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, National Conference, Kerala Congress (Mani), Revolutionary Socialist Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.
The Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) was also approached by the Opposition bloc to join the boycott. However, according to sources, the party does not intend to sign the joint statement. “We are still discussing the issue and will take a decision tomorrow,” BRS leader K. Keshav Rao said.
The Biju Janata Dal and YSR Congress said that their MPs would attend the event.
Mr. Modi will inaugurate the new building on Sunday. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will also be present at the function. The Opposition has argued that it is the President and not the Prime Minister who is the head of the Indian state, and also the head of the Parliament.
Their statement quotes Article 79 of the Constitution which states, “There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.” The Opposition sought to remind the government that it is the President who “summons, prorogues and addresses” the Parliament.
“In short, the Parliament cannot function without the President. Yet, the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament building without her. This undignified act insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman adivasi President,” the statement said.
‘No consultation’
The Opposition accused Mr. Modi of relentlessly hollowing out Parliament by disqualifying, suspending and muting Opposition members, and by passing several controversial legislations without any debate. It also pointed out that the new building was constructed at “great expense” during a “once-in-a-century” pandemic, with “no consultation with the people of India or MPs”.
“When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building. We will continue to fight in letter, in spirit and in substance against this authoritarian Prime Minister and his government and take our message directly to the people of India,” the statement said.
Minutes after the joint Opposition statement was released, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet that the Parliament is not built by “bricks of ego” but through Constitutional values.
‘Temple of democracy’
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy, however, said his party’s MPs would attend, and slammed those planning to boycott the inauguration.
“Parliament, being the temple of democracy, reflects our nation’s soul and belongs to the people of our country and all the political parties. Boycotting such an auspicious event is not in the true spirit of democracy,” he tweeted. He also urged all parties to set aside their political differences and to attend the event.