'What Was The Need For A New Parliament?' Nitish Kumar Ahead of Its Inauguration

Ahead of the inauguration of the new Parliament House, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday slammed the Centre, asking "what was the need" for the new building.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on Sunday. At least 19 Opposition parties have announced that they are boycotting the event.

"What was the need for a new Parliament? The earlier building was a historic one. I have repeatedly said that the people in power will change the history of this country," he told reporters on Saturday.

The Bihar CM is also skipping the 8th Niti Aayog Council meeting which is held today in New Delhi. "There was no sense to attend the NITI Aayog meeting today and also the inauguration of the new Parliament building tomorrow," Kumar added.

PM Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 following an invitation by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

The opposition parties contend that President Draupadi Murmu should inaugurate the new Parliament building as she is not only the Head of State, but also an integral part of Parliament as she summons, prorogues, and addresses it.

In a joint statement, the parties said that 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 which demands a commensurate response." The Congress, TMC, DMK, JDU, 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.

Notably, the Opposition parties had skipped the foundation in 2020, citing concerns about its timing amid farmer protests, the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic distress due to a lockdown.

Schedule Of Parliament Inauguration Event

• The ceremony will begin at 7.30 with a havan' and 'puja' and would go on till 8.30 am.
• The installation of the Sengol, the historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu will be installed near the chair of the Speaker between 8.30 am and 9 am.
• Between 9 and 9.30 am there will be a prayer meeting and many pundits and saints will represent the same.
• The second phase of the ceremony will begin at 12 noon with the singing of the National Anthem. Two short films will be screened at this time.
• The messages by President Draupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar will be read out by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• While a provision has been made for an address, by Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, he has however said that he would boycott the ceremony.
• A Rs 75 coin will be released on the occasion. A stamp too will be released.
• The programme will end with the address by the Prime Minister at 2.30 pm.