Modi govt's 'arrogance' denied President the right to inaugurate new ones: Congress

By Newscrab Jr Editor Updated: May 25, 2023, 22:26 IST

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The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying "an individual's arrogance and desire for self-promotion" denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege of inaugurating the complex. 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the "arrogance" of the Modi government has "destroyed" the parliamentary system.

Kharge tweeted, "Modi ji, Parliament is the temple of democracy, which has been established by the people. The office of the President is the first part of the Parliament. The arrogance of your government has destroyed the parliamentary system."

The Congress chief said- "140 crore Indians want to know what you want to show by taking away the right of the President of India to inaugurate the Parliament House?"

The Congress attack came a day after 20 opposition parties announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Modi.

Nineteen opposition parties, including Congress, Left, TMC, SP, and AAP, came together to jointly announce the boycott, saying they found no value in a new building when "the soul of democracy has been sucked out". Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new parliament building, his party will not attend it.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Yesterday, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the country's largest judicial complex at the Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi. One man's arrogance and desire for self-promotion has deprived the first tribal woman President of her constitutional privilege of inaugurating the new building of Parliament in New Delhi on May 28.

Following the opposition's call for a boycott, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had also hit back, calling the opposition's stand a "blatant insult to the democratic ethos and constitutional values ​​of our great nation".

In their joint statement, 19 opposition parties said that the decision by Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate the new Parliament House, "completely sidelining President Draupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct attack on our democracy, which demands a similar response".