Constitution Day Programme in Parliament: With around 15 opposition parties, including the Congress, boycotting the Constitution Day event, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said staying away from such events held by Parliament was not good for the health of democracy.
"I am deeply hurt as the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha that several political parties boycotted the event organised by Parliament to commemorate the Constitution Day. It was not a PM's event but a Parliament programme," Birla said.
Om Birla said parties boycotting the event did not even inform him about their decision. "If they had some issues, they should have discussed it with me. I would have tried to resolve their issues so that they could attend the event," the Lok Sabha speaker said.
The Lok Sabha Speaker said arrangements were made for Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and his counterpart in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to sit on the dais during the event.
"The people of the country expect Parliament to function in an orderly manner and all political parties should try to ensure that the House runs smoothly," Om Birla further said.
At the event, Om Birla said the Constitution was like a modern version of the Bhagavad Gita that motivates every Indian to work for the nation.
"The Constitution of India is like a modern version of the Gita for us that motivates us to work for the nation. If each one of us commits to working for the country, we can build 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat'," he said.
The Constitution Day event held at Parliament House was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MPs and other dignitaries.
The Samajwadi Party, AAP, Left parties, DMK, SAD, Shiv Sena, NCP, TMC, RJD, RSP and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) stayed away from the event.