NEW DELHI, May 24:
As many as 19 parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, today announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, saying they find no value in a new building when the “soul of democracy has been sucked out”.
Noting that the inauguration of the Parliament building is a momentous occasion, the opposition parties in a joint statement said,”despite our belief that the Government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion”.
However, Prime Minister Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself,”completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response”.
Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 following an invitation by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
“When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building,” the parties said.
“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 opposition parties said.
Attacking Modi, the parties said,”Undemocratic acts are not new to the Prime Minister, who has relentlessly hollowed out Parliament. Opposition Members of Parliament have been disqualified, suspended and muted when they raised the issues of the people of India. MPs from the Treasury benches have disrupted Parliament.”
“Many controversial legislations, including the three farm laws, have been passed with almost no debate, and Parliamentary Committees have been practically made defunct,” the parties said.
The Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Janata Dal (United), AAP, CPI-M, CPI, SP, NCP, SS (UBT), RJD, IUML, JMM, NC, KC (M), RSP, VCK, MDMK, RLD are the signatories of the joint statement.
While the BSP has not made its stand clear on whether it will attend, its MP Danish Ali called for opposition unity. Shiromani Akali Dal, however, said they will attend the new Parliament inauguration function.
The TDP, BJD, AIADMK and YSRCP have also not made their stand clear yet but are likely to be present at the inauguration.
BRS, however, said it will announce its decision on Thursday.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend.
Asked about the opposition decision, Home Minister Amit Shah did not respond and said the Government has extended the invitation to all political parties and they will respond as per their wisdom.
He also said the event in which ‘Sengol’, a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu, which was received by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to represent the transfer of power from the British and will be installed in the new Parliament building, should not be linked with politics.
“The Government of India has invited everyone to be present at the inauguration. Everyone will act as per their wisdom,” he said at a press conference when asked about the boycott call.
Noting that ‘Sengol’ can’t be associated with politics, he said, “This is the real purpose. Don’t mix this with politics. This is an old tradition that is going to be connected with the new India. Politics has its own place. Everyone works as per their wisdom.”
Parliamentary Affairs minister Pralhad Joshi termed the opposition move as “unfortunate” and urged them to reconsider their stand.(PTI)
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