Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that “one man’s ego and desire for self-promotion” has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex.
Meanwhile, the BJP hit back at the opposition parties calling the boycott “bankrupt politics” and accused them of not respecting democracy and being “against development and progress”.
Here are the developments through the day:
Sengol represents monarchy: DMK
The DMK has lashed out at the government for the invitation to around 20 pontiffs for the inauguration, asking if religious heads of other faiths have been invited.
DMK spokesperson and former MP TKS Elangovan further said the Sengol represents monarchy.
“Sengol is an identity of a monarchy. In a monarchy there was no sperate judicial system, the king was the chief justice, the king was head of defence, head of administration; king controls the entire nation. The king renders justice to his subjects,” he told PTI.
He said in a democracy there is no role for the Sengol.
All India Adivasi Congress announces nationwide protest
The All India Adivasi Congress on Thursday accused the Modi government of “insulting” tribals by not getting the country’s first tribal president Droupadi Murmu to inaugurate the new Parliament building, as it announced a nationwide protest against the move on May 26.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, All India Adivasi Congress chief Shivajirao Moghe said Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building rather than the president is an “insult” to democracy.
“For the first time a tribal is the president, we have a woman president. This (inauguration by the PM) is an insult to tribals and women. The President is an important part of Parliament as it is the president that addresses the joint session of Parliament. It is the President who should inaugurate Parliament,” Moghe said.
PM Modi takes potshot at Oppn parties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a veiled swipe at the opposition for their decision to boycott the inauguration.
Referring to his community event in Sydney recently that saw a crowd of over 20,000 people turn up to hear him, PM Modi said that not only the PM of Australia, Anthony Albanese, was in the audience, but also the country’s former PM and opposition MPs who were together for the sake of their nation.
“The former PM was also present in that function. There were MPs from the opposition and the ruling party. All of them took part in the community event,” the PM said.
Inauguration programme to begin from 7.30am
The inauguration of the new Parliament building will start from 7.30 am on May 28 with the handing over of the “Sengol”, officials said on Thursday.
This will be followed by a Sarv Dharm Prayer and Puja.
“I will be meeting PM Modi and presenting the ‘Sengol’ to him,” said Sri Harihara Desika Swamigal, the 293rd head priest of Madurai Adheenam.
The historic sceptre ‘Sengol’ was received by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on August 14, 1947, to represent the symbol of the transfer of power from the Britishers to India. The same spectre will be handed over to PM Modi by the head priest of Madurai Adheenam on May 28.
Modi govt’s ‘arrogance’ has ‘destroyed’ parliamentary system: Congress
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that “one man’s ego and desire for self-promotion” has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex.
“Mr. Modi, Parliament is the temple of democracy established by the people. The office of the President is the first part of Parliament. The arrogance of your government has destroyed the parliamentary system,” Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi.
“140 crore Indians want to know what do you want to show by taking away the right of the President of India to inaugurate the Parliament House?” the Congress chief said.
Plea in SC seeks inauguration by President
A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha secretariat for inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu, who is the “first citizen of India and the head of the institution”.
The petition says the respondents–the Lok Sabha secretariat and the Union of India–are “humiliating” the President by not inviting her for the inauguration.
The PIL filed by advocate Jaya Sukin contended the statement issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat on May 18 and invite issued by Secretary General, Lok Sabha about the inauguration of the new Parliament building are violative of the Constitution.
“The President is the first citizen of India and head of the institution of Parliament,” it noted and sought a direction from the Supreme Court to facilitate the inauguration by Murmu.
Oppn trying to create controversy: UP CM
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Thursday hit out at Opposition parties for boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying they were making a “disgusting” attempt to create a controversy.
The CM said this is not for the first time that a PM is becoming a “sakshi” (witness) to an inauguration in the Parliament complex.
Earlier, PM Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament annexe and PM Rajiv Gandhi had laid the foundation stone of the Parliament library, Adityanath said.
On the boycott announcement, he said, “In the history of independent India, the date of May 28 is going to be registered as a glorious day when the prime minister will gift the new Parliament building to the nation.””This will be a historic moment. Instead of making this moment dignified and glorious, the type of statements coming from the Congress and other opposition parties are saddening and irresponsible. This is of weakening the democracy,” the CM said in video.
“Disgusting attempts are made to make a controversy on the the glorious moment. I think the country will not accept such things. The new Parliament building has been made keeping a visionary approach in mind … today’s need and vision for next 100 years,” he added.
Telugu Desam Party to attend inauguration
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday said it will take part in the inauguration of the new Parliament building.
TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed Rajya Sabha MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar to represent the party during the inauguration.
(With inputs from agencies)Watch BJP undermining President Droupadi Murmu, violating Article 79: KC Venugopal on new Parliament building