Govt Urges Oppn Parties To 'Reconsider' Decision To Boycott Opening Of New Parliament Building

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi urged opposition parties to reconsider their decision after they announced that they would boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

After a number of opposition parties announced that they would boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi requested them to reconsider their decision. He said that boycotting and making issues out of a new issue is most unfortunate.     "I would like to tell them that this is a historical event. This is not the time of politics...Boycotting and making issues out of a new issue is most unfortunate. I appeal to them to reconsider their decision and join this historical function…," Pralhad Joshi said as quoted by the news agency ANI.

The new Parliament building seems to be a continuous matter of contention between the ruling BJP and the opposition as now several parties have announced that they will not be attending the inauguration of the new Parliament complex. On Wednesday, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena and RJD became the new entrants on the list. AAP, TMC and the left have already announced their decision to boycott the programme.

The opening of the newly-built Parliament building is set to take place on Sunday (May 28) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the same. The opposition is questioning the authority with which PM Modi will be inaugurating the building and demanded that the president should do it instead.

While many parties criticised the government on the issue, many have now decided to skip the event on Sunday. Announcing its decision, RJD tweeted, "RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) will boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building in Delhi on 28th May."

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut meanwhile said that his party will also join the opposition to boycott the opening event. "All opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on 28th May and we will also do the same," he told ANI. JDU will also not participate in the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament House. 

Party spokesperson said, "What is the rationale for building a new Parliament House? You do not have a sense of respect for the legacy of your ancestors. Money was wasted. That too at a time when inflation and unemployment are at their peak. Nitish Kumar is giving reservations in government jobs to the third generation of freedom fighters. the central government has not given."

Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) has also decided to stay away from the opening of the new parliament building on Sunday. Meanwhile, DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) also said that it will boycott the new Parliament building inauguration, reported ANI citing party MP Tiruchi Siva. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson on Wednesday said that the party will also not attend the inaugural function of the New parliament building, and it has decided to stand with other like-minded opposition parties on this issue.

BRS MP K Keshava Rao said that his party will also not likely attend the programme. "We have not taken any decision yet, we are yet to take a call. It is unlikely that we will attend but we'll announce our decision tomorrow," he said.

On Tuesday, the AAP, which is involved in a bitter tussle with the Centre over control of administrative services in Delhi, issued a statement saying it would boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building. "AAP has taken this decision in view of the questions being raised regarding the matter of not inviting the President to the inauguration ceremony," the AAP said.

TMC, on the other hand, has decided not to attend because they believe the event will be "all about I, me, and myself." CPI general secretary D Raja has also stated that his party will not attend the ceremony.

Despite the opposition's objections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building on May 28, the official invitation issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat shows that PM Modi will perform the ceremony in the presence of Lower House Speaker Om Birla. The invitation obtained by ANI was sent by Lok Sabha secretary general Utpal Kumar Singh to various dignitaries, including members of Parliament. On May 28, the event will begin at 12 PM (noon).