Cong Says Modi Govt’s ‘Arrogance’ Has All But ‘Destroyed’ Parliamentary System

Source: PTI

The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying “one man’s ego and desire for self-promotion” has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex.

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

“Mr Modi, Parliament is the temple of democracy established by the people. The office of the President is the first part of Parliament. The arrogance of your government has destroyed the parliamentary system,” Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi.

“140 crore Indians want to know what do you want to show by taking away the right of the President of India to inaugurate the Parliament House?” the Congress chief said.

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

In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Yesterday, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the country’s largest judicial campus at the Jharkhand High Court complex in Ranchi. It is one man’s ego and desire for self-promotion that has denied the first Adivasi woman President her Constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28th.”

“Ashoka the Great, Akbar the Great, Modi the Inaugurate,” Ramesh said.

Amid the raging row over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Thursday said the absence of the president in the ceremonial event would amount to “devaluing the ethos of our Republic”.

In a tweet, Sibal said, “Inauguration of the new Parliament building. Parliament symbolises our Republic. The President is the head of the Republic. The absence of the President in this ceremonial event amounts to devaluing the ethos of our Republic. Does the government care!” Sibal, who was a Union minister during UPA 1 and 2, had quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party’s support. Sibal recently floated a non-electoral platform ‘Insaaf’ aimed at fighting injustice.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the current Parliament structure was actually a “council hall” and for the first time, the country will have its own full-fledged Parliament building.

The senior BJP leader was speaking to reporters in Mumbai, after a large number of opposition parties decided to boycott the building’s inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

The opposition parties have said that the BJP-led Centre is culpable of denying President Droupadi Murmu, the first Adivasi woman President of India, her constitutional privilege by not letting her inaugurate the new Parliament building.

However, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have decided to attend the inauguration. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday said it will take part in the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The opposition party will be represented by its Members of Parliament (MPs) on Sunday, May 28, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the ceremony by inaugurating it.

“TDP will attend the new Parliament building inauguration. MPs from the TDP will attend the event,” said a party statement shared with PTI.

Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday said it will also take part in the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The BJD believes that Constitutional institutions should be above any issue which may affect their sanctity and honour, the regional party in a statement in Bhubaneshwar. “The BJD shall be a part of this momentous occasion,” it said.