2 parties accept invite to parliament opening, as opposition parties announce boycott

New Delhi: Regional political parties Biju Janata Dal and YSRCP stand out in the Opposition camp announcing that they would attend PM Modi inaugurating new Parliament building on Sunday.

Announcing participation of MPs at the ceremony, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said in a letter that his party believes the parliament being the symbol of democracy is above politics.

‘BJD believes that these constitutional institutions should be above any issue that may affect their sanctity and honour. Such issues can always be discussed in the august house,’ the letter said.

BJD’s announcement comes a fortnight after its leader Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Patnaik at the time said he discussed with PM Modi matters related to the Jagannath International Airport.

The letter further said that the president is head of the state, while parliament represent 1.4 billion people. ‘Both institutions are symbol of Indian democracy’, drawing their ‘authority from the constitution of India’.

The YSRCP announcement to attend the inauguration comes not as a surprise to many observers, with one report pointing at Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s subtle support to the Centre’s policies.

A joint statement issued by 19 parties including the Congress, AAP announced the boycott of PM Modi inaugurating the new parliament building citing inappropriateness as well as calling it a ‘grave insult’ and ‘direct assault’.

They collectively demanded that President Draupadi Murmu should have been chosen to open the building.

Union Minister Prahlad Joshi called the opposition's boycott as unfortunate saying that it is a ‘historical event. This is not the time for politics’.