New Delhi: Amid demands from the opposition that the president and not the prime minister should inaugurate the new Parliament building, the leaders of several political parties have decided to boycott the ceremony on May 28.
Quoting sources, PTI reported that the leaders of like-minded opposition parties deliberated on the issue and a joint statement by all the floor leaders will be issued soon, announcing a united boycott of the event.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) said they will skip the inauguration.
The report quoting sources further added that the final decision will be taken on Wednesday, once the formal invitation is received by the parties.
“Parliament is not just a new building; it is an establishment with old traditions, values, precedents and rules — it is the foundation of Indian democracy. Prime Minister Modi doesn’t get that. For him, Sunday’s inauguration of the new building is all about I, ME, MYSELF. So count us out,” TMC’s leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien wrote on Twitter.
CPI general secretary D Raja also said his party will not attend the ceremony.
Soon after the MPs started receiving soft copies of the invitation, they got into a huddle to discuss the issue.
The opposition sources indicated that most of the parties are of the view that they should unitedly skip the ceremony, but a final decision on the issue will be taken on Wednesday.
The opposition parties have raised objections to Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building and said President Droupadi Murmu should do the honours instead.
