He Has Small Thinking: BJP Slams Rahul For Raising Objection To PM Inaugurating Parl Building

The BJP has slammed senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for raising objections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building.

"Why does this happen? When the country is progressing, he comes forward as a bad omen during auspicious times. He has such small thinking that he can't welcome such a historic moment when the new Parliament building will become a temple of democracy," NDTV quoted BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia as saying.

On Sunday, Gandhi had said that the President should inaugurate the new Parliament building and not the prime minister.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 which will coincide with the birth anniversary celebration of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar.

On the other hand, Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Centre and accused the BJP government of disrespecting the President of India by not inviting her to the event.

"It looks like the Modi government ensured the election of President of India from Dalit and Tribal communities for electoral reasons. It has repeatedly disrespected propriety . Office of the President of India is reduced to tokenism under the BJP-RSS government," Kharge tweeted.

President Draupadi Murmu, as the highest constitutional authority of India's supreme legislative body should inaugurate the new building that will symbolise the Indian government's commitment to democratic values and constitutional propriety, Kharge urged.

"She alone represents government, opposition, and every citizen alike. She is the First Citizen of India. Inauguration of the new Parliament building by her will symbolise Government's commitment to Democratic values and Constitutional propriety," he added.

Not just Congress, several Opposition leaders have objected to PM Modi inaugurating the Parliament building.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi asked why Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha chairman won't inaugurate it. "Why should PM inaugurate Parliament? He is head of the executive, not legislature. We have separation of powers and honourable Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chair could have inaugurated. It's made with public money, why is PM behaving like his "friends" have sponsored it from their private funds?" Owaisi tweeted.

"Obsession with self-image and cameras trumps decency and norms when it comes to Modi Ji," CPI's D Raja said.

According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the new Parliament building can comfortably seat 888 members in the Lok Sabha chamber and 300 in the Rajya Sabha chamber.