Declaring their intention to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament, 19 Opposition parties — including the Congress — issued a joint statement saying that there was no value in a new building when the “soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament.”
Their primary objection is against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, “completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu”, which the Opposition said was not only “a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy, which demands a commensurate response”.
Also read: New Parliament opening | Not inviting President is an insult, says Opposition
The signatories include the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena (Udhav Thackeray), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India, Indian Union Muslim League, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, National Conference, Kerala Congress (Mani), Revolutionary Socialist Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.
The Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) was also approached by the Opposition bloc to join the boycott. However, according to sources, the party does not intend to sign the joint statement. “We are still discussing the issue and will take a decision tomorrow,” BRS leader K. Keshav Rao said.
Also Read | NDA condemns Opposition boycott of new Parliament opening
The Biju Janata Dal and YSR Congress said that their MPs would attend the event.
The BJD’s decision was keenly awaited as Opposition parties have aggressively brought the issue of the President being sidelined to the fore. Since Ms. Murmu hails from Odisha and the BJD draws its strength from strong regionalism, political analysts were predicting that it would be a difficult choice for Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s party.
“The President of India is the Head of the Indian State. The Parliament represents the 1.4 billion people of India. Both institutions are symbols of Indian democracy and draw their authority from the Constitution of India. Their authority and stature should always be safeguarded,” said Sasmit Patra, BJD’s national spokesperson, in a statement.
Mr. Patra said, “BJD believes that these constitutional institutions should be above any issue which may affect their sanctity and honour. Such issues can always be debated later in the august house. Hence the BJD shall be a part of this momentous occasion.”
“Odisha CM does not want to confront or displease the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government. When the National Democratic Alliance government was short of a majority in the Upper House of Parliament, the BJD came to its rescue in the passage of critical bills and in the election of President and Vice President,” said Rabi Das, veteran journalist and Bhubaneswar-based political analyst.
Pressure was mounting on the BJD as social media platforms were flooded with negative commentary over Ms. Murmu, not receiving an invitation to the inauguration.
“Each and every Odia must stand together in support of the tribal leader and the President of India Droupadi Murmu who is an Odia daughter. The way this BJP government at the centre is treating the first citizen of the Republic of India is a clear case of demeaning of the high office of Commander-In-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces,” said Abhishek Mahananda, a Congress leader, on Twitter.
Many wanted BJD to stay away from the ceremony even though the party stuck to their stand of not taking sides.
President sidelined
Mr. Modi will inaugurate the new building on Sunday. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will also be present at the function. The Opposition has argued that it is the President and not the Prime Minister who is the head of the Indian state, and also the head of the Parliament.
Their statement quotes Article 79 of the Constitution which states, “There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.” The Opposition sought to remind the government that it is the President who “summons, prorogues and addresses” the Parliament.
Also Read | Opposition should reconsider boycott of new Parliament’s ‘historic’ opening: Pralhad Joshi
“In short, the Parliament cannot function without the President. Yet, the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament building without her. This undignified act insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman adivasi President,” the statement said.
‘No consultation’
The Opposition accused Mr. Modi of relentlessly hollowing out Parliament by disqualifying, suspending and muting Opposition members, and by passing several controversial legislations without any debate. It also pointed out that the new building was constructed at “great expense” during a “once-in-a-century” pandemic, with “no consultation with the people of India or MPs”.
“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. We will continue to fight in letter, in spirit and in substance against this authoritarian Prime Minister and his government and take our message directly to the people of India,” the statement said.
Minutes after the joint Opposition statement was released, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet that the Parliament is not built by “bricks of ego” but through Constitutional values.
‘Temple of democracy’
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy, however, said his party’s MPs would attend, and slammed those planning to boycott the inauguration.
“Parliament, being the temple of democracy, reflects our nation’s soul and belongs to the people of our country and all the political parties. Boycotting such an auspicious event is not in the true spirit of democracy,” he tweeted. He also urged all parties to set aside their political differences and to attend the event.
In a statement, Biju Janata Dal spokesperson Sasmit Patra said: “President of India is the head of the Indian state. The Parliament represents the 1.4 billion people of India. Both institutions are symbols of Indian democracy and draw their authority from the Constitution of India. Their authority and status should always be safeguarded. BJD believes that these Constitutional institutions should be above any issue which may affect their sanctity and honour. Such issues can be always debated later in the august house.”
