Opposition Parties To Boycott New Parliament Building Inauguration By PM Modi

Nineteen opposition parties, including the Congress have decided to boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

The decision came after several Opposition parties demanded that President Draupadi Murmu should inaugurate the new building in Delhi instead of PM Modi.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has accused the government of repeatedly disrespecting propriety by not inviting the President and the former President to the inauguration.

Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Communist Party of India (CPI), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Communist Party of India (Marxist), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Nitish Kunar's Janata Dal-United (JDU), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Kerala Congress (Mani), announced their decision to boycott the event, raising objections over inaugurating the new parliament building on the birth anniversary of Veer Savarkar.

On Wednesday, Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, MK Stalin's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal, Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), National Conference (NC), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) joined the list of opposition parties boycotting the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building by PM Modi.

However, K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Sukhbir Singh Badal's Shiromani Akali Dal are yet to announce their decision. It is likely that these parties will stay away from the inauguration.

Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy-led Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party will attend the inauguration.

"Parliament is not just a new building; it is an establishment with old traditions, values, precedents and rules, it is the foundation of Indian democracy. PM Modi doesn't get that. For him, Sunday's inauguration of the new building is all about I, me, myself. So count us out," TMC leader Derek O'Brien said in a tweet.

The Congress and several other Opposition parties had skipped the foundation-laying ceremony of the new Parliament building in December 2020 too.