The Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, and Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have announced their decision to boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building in Delhi’s Central Vista, scheduled for May 28. Their decision comes in response to what they perceive as an “insult” to President Droupadi Murmu, who was not invited to inaugurate the building. The move by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress marks the first opposition party to declare a boycott, with the AAP later joining in.
Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien expressed his party’s stance on Twitter, stating that the parliament is not merely a new building but an institution with established traditions, values, and rules that form the foundation of Indian democracy. O’Brien criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for turning the inauguration into a self-centered event and announced that the Trinamool Congress would not participate.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which is challenging the Centre’s executive order on the transfer and postings of bureaucrats in Delhi, also voiced its objections to the event. The party accused the government of insulting President Droupadi Murmu by not inviting her to the inauguration ceremony. AAP leader Sanjay Singh tweeted that the party would boycott the ceremony as a protest against the exclusion of the President.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, have raised concerns over PM Modi inaugurating the new parliament instead of President Droupadi Murmu. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of repeatedly disrespecting propriety by not inviting the President and former President to such events. Kharge emphasized the President’s role as the representative of the government, opposition, and all citizens, and called for her to inaugurate the new Parliament building, symbolizing the government’s commitment to democratic values and constitutional propriety.
The Congress party is yet to announce its stance on the opening ceremony, and the opposition’s strategy will be discussed in an upcoming mega meeting. In December 2020, the Congress boycotted the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Parliament building.
Other opposition parties, including the CPI and AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi, have also criticized the government’s decision not to invite the President for the inauguration.
The government’s move has sparked a heated debate, with Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri defending PM Modi’s role as the head of government and leader of the Parliament. Puri argued that while the President is the head of state, the Prime Minister represents the government and leads the Parliament on its behalf.
The construction of the new parliament building was prompted by resolutions passed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, citing space constraints in the current building, which is nearly a century old. The lack of convenient arrangements for MPs’ seating in both houses had been affecting the efficiency of their work.
The boycott by the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party reflects their dissatisfaction with the exclusion of President Droupadi Murmu from the inauguration ceremony. The controversy surrounding the event highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and opposition parties, with each side emphasizing their respective positions on democratic values, constitutional propriety, and the role of key dignitaries in official functions.
