19 Parties including Congress to boycott PM Modi's Parliament House inauguration
In a significant move, the Congress party announced on Wednesday that 19 like-minded political parties have collectively decided to boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament House, scheduled to be held on May 28.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was slated to inaugurate the state-of-the-art building, but the opposition parties have expressed their dissent, citing the erosion of democracy under the current government.
In a joint statement, the opposition parties stated, "Given the erosion of democratic values within the Parliament, we fail to find any significance in the inauguration of a new building. We hereby declare our unanimous decision to boycott the event, symbolizing our ongoing fight against this authoritarian Prime Minister and his government. We intend to convey our message directly to the people of India, both in words and actions."
While acknowledging the significance of the occasion, the statement also highlighted their reservations about the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament building was constructed.
The parties had initially expressed their willingness to put aside their differences and participate in the event. However, they strongly criticized Prime Minister Modi for unilaterally deciding to inaugurate the building, completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu.
They viewed this as not only a grave insult but also a direct attack on the democratic principles that India upholds, and they believe that an appropriate response is warranted.
Referring to Article 79 of the Constitution, the opposition parties emphasized that President Murmu serves as both the Head of State and an integral part of the Parliament.
They reminded that she has the authority to summon, prorogue, and address the Parliament, and her assent is essential for an Act of Parliament to come into effect. Hence, the exclusion of the President from the inauguration was seen as an affront to the democratic process.
The joint statement also criticized the government's recent actions, including the disqualification of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and the controversial passage of three farm bills. The parties highlighted the Prime Minister's consistent efforts to undermine the Parliament, pointing out the disqualification, suspension, and silencing of opposition MPs who raised concerns on behalf of the people.
They further expressed concerns about the lack of debate surrounding significant legislations, such as the farm laws, and the practical defunctioning of Parliamentary Committees.
Moreover, the parties raised questions about the hefty expenditure incurred during the construction of the new Parliament building amid the once-in-a-century pandemic, without adequate consultation with the people of India or the elected MPs.
Among the signatories of the joint statement are prominent parties such as the DMK, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), CPI, CPI(M), Shiv Sena, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress, VCK, Rashtriya Lok Dal, National Conference, MDMK, and the Revolutionary Socialist Party. The inclusion of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who have been reaching out to opposition leaders with the aim of forming a united front ahead of the 2024 general election, underscores the significance of this boycott.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has not signed the statement or announced its stance on the matter thus far.
The decision to boycott the inauguration has sparked a war of words between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to unveil the new Parliament building, a four-storey triangular structure covering an impressive area of 64,500 square meters. The construction, undertaken by Tata Projects, commenced on January 15, 2021, and was originally slated for completion by August 2022.
The building is equipped with numerous amenities, including a library, multiple committee rooms, and dining areas, and is expected to accommodate 1,224 Members of Parliament. The estimated cost of the project stands at Rs 970 crore.
You can share this post!
Recent News
