New Delhi [India]: Congress and 18 other opposition parties on Wednesday issued a joint statement to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28.
The joint statement of the opposition parties said: “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.” The statement further said 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 new Parliament building has been built at great expense during a once-in-a-century pandemic with no consultation with the people of India or MPs, for whom it is apparently being built, the opposition parties said.
“When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building,” the statement added.
Amid the opposition’s objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said that the party will boycott the ceremony slated to take place on May 28.
“All opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28 and we will also do the same,” said Sanjay Raut.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) announced that it would also boycott the inauguration ceremony.
RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said that there is a need for course correction with the entire Parliament Building inauguration.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav double-downed the opposition’s stand on the boycott.
“We will boycott this (the inauguration of the new Parliament building),” said Tejashwi Yadav.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP K Keshava Rao said that though the party has not decided yet, it is unlikely to attend the ceremony.
“We have not taken any decision yet, we are yet to take a call. It is unlikely that we will attend but we will announce our decision tomorrow,” said BRS MP K Keshava Rao.
A senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said that the party will stand with other like-minded opposition parties regarding the inaugural function of the new parliament building.
“NCP will not attend the inaugural function of the vew Parliament Building, the party has decided to stand with other like-minded opposition parties on this issue,” said Spokesperson, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP),” the NCP leader said.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) will also boycott the new Parliament building inauguration.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Tiruchi Siva confirmed that the party will boycott the inauguration.
“Dmk also to boycott parliament inauguration,” Tiruchi Siva confirms to ANI.
