New Delhi: 19 parties of the opposition have said that there has been an attack on parliamentary democracy in the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and there was no consultation with the opposition parties in the construction of the new building. Hence the political parties having similar ideology have decided to collectively boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament House.
Modi govt creating a dangerous situation for democracy
Like-minded opposition parties said in a joint statement here on Wednesday, “The inauguration of the new Parliament building is an important occasion. The opposition believes that the Modi government is creating a dangerous situation for democracy. This government has created a new parliament in an autocratic manner, yet the opposition was ready to forget the differences on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony."
The statement lamented that on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Parliament House, the government has decided to get the inauguration of the new building done by Modi totally bypassing President Droupadi Murmu and this is a direct attack on our democratic tradition.
No consultation with the people or the parliamentarians
Opposition parties said, “The new Parliament House has been built with huge expenditure during the pandemic. There has been no consultation with the people of India or the parliamentarians. When the soul of democracy has been expelled from the Parliament, we do not see any value in the new building, hence we announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament House. We will continue to fight in words and feelings against this autocratic Prime Minister and his government and will take our message directly to the people.”
The statement reads that according to Article 79 of the Constitution there shall be a Parliament for the Union consisting of a President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the Assembly of the People.
Dishonor to the high office of the President
The opposition parties said, “The President is not only the head of the state in India but is also an integral part of the Parliament. She summons, prorogates and addresses the Parliament. In short, the Parliament cannot function without the President. Yet the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament House without him. This unbecoming act brings dishonor to the high office of the President and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution."
Opposition members disqualified for raising people's issues
Directly attacking the Prime Minister, the statement said that undemocratic acts are not a new thing for the Prime Minister who has been constantly hollowing out the Parliament. Opposition members in Parliament have been disqualified, suspended and silenced for raising people's issues. The MPs of the ruling party have disrupted the Parliament. Several controversial bills, including the three agricultural laws, have been passed almost without debate and parliamentary committees have been practically rendered inactive.
The signatories of the joint statement.include the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam, the Janata Dal-United, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the CPI, the Samajwadi Party, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray , the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Indian Union Muslim League, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the National Conference, the Kerala Congress-Mani, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Rashtriya Lok Dal.
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