At least 20 Opposition parties on Wednesday announced a boycott of Sunday’s unveiling of the new Parliament building in protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not the country’s “first Adivasi President” Droupadi Murmu doing the honours, even as the ruling BJP appealed to them to reconsider their decision and not politicise the event.
The number of parties boycotting may increase as BRS will take a call on Thursday on its attendance in the event, which would, however, see leaders from non-NDA parties like BJD, YSR Congress, Akali Dal and TDP attending along with BJP allies. BSP is also yet to make its stand clear.
Nineteen parties issued a joint statement announcing the boycott of the “momentous occasion”, as the “complete sidelining” of the President was “not only a grave insult but a direct assault” on democracy, which demanded a “commensurate response”.
The parties – Congress, DMK, AAP, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), JD(U), NCP, SP, CPI(M), CPI, RJD, JMM, VCK, RLD, RSP MDMK Muslim League, National Conference and Kerala Congress – said the decision not to invite Murmu “undermines the spirit of inclusion” which saw the “nation celebrate its first woman Adivasi President”.
“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,” 19 parties said in the joint statement.
AIMIM announced its boycott separately while differing on other Opposition parties’ reasoning and said if Lok Speaker Om Birla inaugurated it, the party would attend, as even the President is part of the executive. BRS Rajya Sabha floor leader K Keshava Rao said his party is unlikely to attend the event though a final call will be taken on Thursday.
Responding to the boycott call, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said one should not politicise the event. “All have been invited and they will take a call as per their wisdom,” he said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi appealed to parties to reconsider their decision, saying it is unfortunate and that it is not the time for politics.
In the joint statement, the 19 parties said they were “open to sinking our differences” to attend the function despite its “disapproval of the autocratic manner” in which the new Parliament was built and belief that the Modi government was "threatening democracy.
“However, 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 statement said.
The parties said the Parliament cannot function without the President as she summons, prorogues, addresses the Parliament and gives her assent to Bills.
“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 said.
The parties said “undemocratic acts are not new” to the Prime Minister, who has “relentlessly hollowed out” the Parliament.
“Opposition MPs have been disqualified, suspended and muted when they raised the issues of the people of India. 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,” it said.
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, it added.