19 Opposition parties to boycott inauguration ceremony of new Parliament building.

19 opposition parties including Congress on Wednesday in a statement stated to boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building in Delhi to be held on Sunday, May 28.

The 19 opposition parties are basically against the PM Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building all by himself and without the presence of President Droupadi Murmu.

In the joint statement, the opposition parties said the Prime Minister is “completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu,” which according to them, is not only “a grave insult but also direct assault on the democracy which demands a commensurate response.”

The statement further quotes Article 79 of the Constitution which states, “There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.” The Opposition made sure to remind the government that it is the President who “summons, prorogues and addresses” the Parliament.

“In short, the Parliament cannot function without the President. Yet, the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament building without her. This undignified act insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman adivasi President,” the statement said.

Lastly, it said, “When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building. We will continue to fight in letter, in spirit and in substance against this authoritarian Prime Minister and his government and take our message directly to the people of India.”

The 19 opposition parties which jointly signed the boycott statement are the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena (Udhav Thackeray), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India, Indian Union Muslim League, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, National Conference, Kerala Congress (Mani), Revolutionary Socialist Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.

While the these 19 opposition parties are boycotting the event, Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal and YSRCP of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy will attend the ceremony including BJP and members of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and a few other major parties.

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah shortly after the joint statement was released by the opposition party said, “We should not politicize the issue…let people think and react however they want.”

Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on Sunday, May 28. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla will also be attending the event.