Opposition questions PM Modi opening new parliament, mulling boycott of inauguration

New Delhi: The Opposition’s call for the President Droupadi Murmu to open the new parliament building is getting louder in the run-up to the grand event on May 28. Reports are also circulating that the Opposition parties, especially the Congress, are contemplating boycott of the event.

A top Congress leader, quoted but not named by Times of India reacted when asked whether the Congress MPs will attend the inaugural event, saying “I doubt.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the building on Sunday in an event that will be marked by chanting of hymns, a havan and a puja, according to NDTV.

The tone and tenor of Congress leaders' comments on the inaugural function, all highly critical of the President of the country not being invited to inaugurate the building, also would make it inconsistent with its stance if the party attends the event.

It is reported that the rituals will begin early in the morning as the opening ceremony, scheduled at 11.30 am, is to be attended by Prime Minister Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, among others.

Both the opposition and the ruling BJP started trading barbs over PM Modi opening the building which the Opposition threatened to boycott.

The Opposition asked why the President was not inaugurating the new parliament building, arguing that the President is the constitutional head.

The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that Modi government has seemingly chosen the President of India from Dalit and Tribal communities only for electoral reasons.

Kharge added that Former President Kovind was not invited for the foundation laying ceremony of the new building.

Adding further, the senior congress leader said the President is the highest Constitutional authority.

Leaders from the Opposition including Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari said that President is the head of parliament.

Others who joined the chorus include D Raja of CPI, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi and Manoj Kumar of RJD.Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri countered the charges saying the Opposition leaders were misquoting from the constitution.

Puri tweeted to say that ‘From criticising the New Parliament Building & questioning its very necessity despite many of them advocating for it before but not executing it, Congress President & other worthies are now shifting the goalpost by generously misquoting an article a day from the Constitution!’.