India Opposition To Boycott New Parliament
The new parliament of India is set to be inaugurated this weekend amid a political row as 19 opposition parties say they will boycott the ceremony.
The new building designed by HCP design, planning and management and constructed by Tata projects has increased seating capacity and is built at at an estimated cost of $117.1m.
In 2020, the congress had also boycotted the foundation stone-laying event of the new parliament, criticising the government for holding it at a time when farmers were protesting against three controversial new laws.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the building on Sunday. But opposition leaders say India’s President, the highest constitutional authority, should open the building.
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On Wednesday, 19 parties, including the main opposition congress issued a statement announcing their collective decision to boycott the inauguration ceremony.
India’s home Minister Amit Shah said that all political parties had been invited for the ceremony and asked the opposition to not politicise the event.
India’s president is an indirectly elected, non-party executive with only ceremonial powers, but is considered the country’s first citizen and is the highest constitutional authority.
“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 issued by 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,” it added.
