'Petty Politics': Union Minister Slams Opposition Over New Parliament Inauguration Row

"The Parliament belongs to every citizen of India. This is petty politics, which they are prioritising rather than the nation," Chandrasekhar said. 

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Source : ANI

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday hit out at the Opposition for its decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying it is an act of "petty politics," news agency PTI reported. 

On Sunday, the new Parliament building is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, 20 opposition parties, including Congress, AAP, TMC, and Samajwadi Party, have declared that they will not attend the event as they believe President Droupadi Murmu should be the one to perform the inauguration.

"The Parliament belongs to every citizen of India. This is petty politics, which they are prioritising rather than the nation," Chandrasekhar said. 

VIDEO | "The Parliament belongs to every citizen of India. This is petty politics, which they are prioritising rather than the nation," says Union Minister @Rajeev_GoI on opposition parties boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building. pic.twitter.com/idD0258hph

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 27, 2023

In response to the controversy surrounding the placement of 'Sengol' in Parliament, Union Minister has accused the Congress party of removing its history from school textbooks. 

"The controversy is that the Congress government hid that fact from the nation that when you talk about independence and the Tryst with Destiny speech of Pandit Nehru, we never learnt anywhere in our school that there was a ceremony where a Sengol was handed over to Jawaharlal Nehru as a symbol of righteousness and just rule in a 'pooja' overseen by C Rajagopalachari. This is erased out of history," he said.

Slamming Rahul Gandhi's upcoming US visit, the minister stated: "I usually don't comment on Rahul Gandhi because I scratch my head to try to understand why he is saying what he is saying...When PM Modi travels abroad, he speaks about our country's achievements and earns respect for India...This man (Rahul Gandhi) goes abroad 60 times a year. On every visit, he will tear down India, our institutions. He will talk badly about our democracy, about EVMs, justice system, media, and everything."

#WATCH | On Rahul Gandhi's upcoming visit to the US, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar says, "I usually don't comment on Rahul Gandhi because I scratch my head to try to understand why he is saying what he is saying...When PM Modi travels abroad, he speaks about our country's… pic.twitter.com/BJpddJUinT

— ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2023

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit three American cities for six days starting on May 30, where he will engage with non-resident Indians, executives in the business world, and representatives from the media. 

He also criticized the Chief Ministers from opposition parties who chose not to attend the NITI Aayog governing council meeting.

"What are they afraid of in participating in a discussion about the future of our country? Are they worried that the future of our country's discussion means they will have nothing to contribute?" Chandrasekhar said.

In response to the assertions of "Opposition Unity" following the Bharatiya Janata Party's loss in the Karnataka elections, Chandrasekhar said: "Adding multiple zeros doesn't make it anything more than a zero. Adding people without any ideology or a common belief in the future of India does not make them, suddenly because they are having meals together and press conferences together, a viable alternative to PM Modi's vision of the future of India." 

(With Inputs From Agencies)