New Parliament Inauguration Row: Assam CM Lists Events When Guv Wasn’t Invited

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma on Wednesday took a dig at opposition parties which have decided to boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building

"In the last 9 years - 5 non-BJP or Opposition state governments either laid foundation stones or inaugurated a new Legislative Assembly building. All were done by either the Chief Minister or the Party President. In not a single instance was the Governor or President invited," Himanta tweeted.

"2014: UPA Chief Ministers laid foundation stones of Assembly building in Jharkhand and Assam - Governor not invited. 2018: Andhra Chief Minister lays foundation of new Assembly, Governor not invited. 2020: Sonia Gandhi laid foundation stone of Chhattisgarh Assembly, Governor not invited. 2023: Telangana Assembly inaugurated by Chief Minister, Governor not invited," the tweet added.

Sarma's dig comes after nineteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, the TMC, the AAP, and others decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

The opposition parties have demanded that President Drupadi Murmu should inaugurate the new parliament building instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy... 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," read a joint statement from the opposition parties.

"Undemocratic acts are not new to the Prime Minister, who has relentlessly hollowed out the Parliament. Opposition Members of Parliament have been disqualified, suspended and muted when they raised the issues of the people of India... When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the parliament, we find no value in a new building," it added.