‘Flagrant affront to democratic ethos’: NDA condemns Oppn’s call to boycott opening of new Parl building

The inauguration event for the new Parliament building became controversial after 19 opposition parties announced to boycott the ceremony and accused the central government of ignoring Speaker Droupadi Murmu by not inviting her to the May 28 function in Delhi. .

The ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) condemned the boycott decision, calling it a “blatant affront to India’s democratic and constitutional values.”

In a statement, the NDA said that such flagrant disrespect for this institution reveals not just intellectual bankruptcy but a disturbing disregard for the very essence of democracy.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first case of such disdain. Over the past nine years, these opposition parties have repeatedly shown little regard for parliamentary procedures, disrupted sessions, staged walkouts during crucial legislation, and displayed an alarming indifferent attitude toward their parliamentary duties. This recent boycott is just another feather in his cap of contempt for democratic processes.”

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The NDA said that the audacity of these opposition parties to preach about parliamentary decency and constitutional values ​​is, in light of their actions, nothing short of laughable. “Their hypocrisy knows no bounds: they boycotted the special session of the GST chaired by the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee; he skipped the ceremony when he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, and even paid a last courtesy call on Ramnath Kovind Ji after his election as president. Furthermore, the disrespect shown towards our current President Droupadi Murmu is a new low point in political discourse. Her steadfast opposition to his candidacy is not just an insult to her, but a direct affront to our nation’s Scheduled Castes and Tribes,” he said.

Hitting the Opposition further, the NDA said it was painfully apparent that the Opposition avoids Parliament because it represents the will of the people, a will that has repeatedly rejected its outdated and self-serving politics. “His preference for semi-monarchical governments and family parties shows an aversion to a vibrant democracy, an ideology incongruous with the spirit of our nation.”

‘Soul of democracy sucked’: Oppn boycotts parliamentary event

As many as 19 opposition parties, including Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, came together and announced their decision to boycott Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying they see no value in a new building when the “soul of democracy has been sucked out”.

Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 following an invitation from Lok Sabha Chairman Om Birla.

“When the soul of democracy has been sucked out of Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the opening of the new Parliament building,” the parties said.

“We will continue to fight, in letter, spirit and substance, against this ‘authoritarian’ prime minister and his government, and we will carry our message directly to the people of India,” the opposition parties said.

Attacking Modi, the parties said: “Undemocratic acts are not new to the prime minister, who has relentlessly emptied Parliament. Opposition members in Parliament have been disqualified, suspended and silenced when they raised the issues of the people of India. Parliamentarians from Treasury banks have disrupted Parliament.” “Many controversial pieces of legislation, including the three farm bills, have passed almost without debate, and parliamentary committees have all but disappeared,” the parties said.

Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Janata Dal (United), AAP, CPI-M, CPI, SP, NCP, SS (UBT), RJD, IUML, JMM, NC, KC (M), RSP, VCK, MDMK, RLD are the signatories to the joint statement.

(With PTI inputs)