'Count Us Out': TMC, AAP, CPI To Boycott New Parliament Building Inauguration

The Trinamool Congress leaders will not be present for the inauguration of the new Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28, according to party MP Derek O'Brien.

File Photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects the construction work of the new Parliament building.

Source : PTI

Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aadmi Party and CPI have decided to skip the May 28 inauguration of the new Parliament building in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament in the national capital on Sunday. 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.

Amid demands from the opposition that the president and not the prime minister should inaugurate the new Parliament building, the leaders of several political parties have decided to boycott the ceremony. News agency ANI reported citing sources that the leaders of like-minded opposition parties deliberated on the issue and a joint statement by all the floor leaders will be issued soon, announcing a united boycott of the event.

In a tweet, TMC MP Derek O'Brien said: "Parliament is not just a new building; it is an establishment with old traditions, values, precedents, and rules - it is the foundation of Indian democracy. PM Modi doesn’t get that For him, Sunday’s inauguration of the new building is all about I, ME, MYSELF. So count us out".

Parliament is not just a new building; it is an establishment with old traditions, values, precedents and rules - it is the foundation of Indian democracy. PM Modi doesn’t get that

For him, Sunday’s inauguration of the new building is all about I, ME, MYSELF. So count us out

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) May 23, 2023

Another TMC leader, Saugata Roy said: "We are opposed to the PM inaugurating the new Parliament building. The President should inaugurate it. We are thinking of boycotting the function, the party has to take a final decision on the matter," he was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI. 

#WATCH | We are opposed to the PM inaugurating the new Parliament building. The President should inaugurate it. We are thinking of boycotting the function, the party has to take a final decision on the matter: TMC MP Saugata Roy pic.twitter.com/murcRV5E54

— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

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.

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).

Oppn Against Govt Over New Parliament Inauguration

The countdown to the grand event has been marked by sharp exchanges between BJP and Opposition leaders.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has launched the most venomous attack on the government. "It looks like the Modi Govt has ensured the election of President of India from the Dalit and the Tribal communities only for electoral reasons," he tweeted yesterday.

It looks like the Modi Govt has ensured election of President of India from the Dalit and the Tribal communities only for electoral reasons.

While Former President, Shri Kovind was not invited for the New Parliament foundation laying ceremony…

1/4

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 22, 2023

Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the President should inaugurate the new parliament building.

Several senior party leaders, including MPs Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari, agreed with the Congress chief that the President is the head of parliament under the Constitution. Other Opposition leaders, including CPI's D Raja, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, and RJD's Manoj Kumar Jha, have also criticised the Prime Minister's plan for the new building's inauguration.