“A session has not been called in Parliament, it is just the inaugural ceremony.”
New Delhi:
Following a call from opposition parties to boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh today branded the new building a symbol of democracy and called on opposition parties to reconsider their position on the matter.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla are set to dedicate the new parliament building to the nation on May 28.
Rajnath Singh speaking to ANI said no one should politicize the inauguration of the new Parliament as it is a representation of the aspirations of all Indians.
“The new Parliament building will be inaugurated on May 28. No one should politicize this, the new parliament is a symbol of democracy and the aspiration of all Indians. It is my call to all parties that decided to boycott the inauguration of Parliament to reconsider their decision,” Mr Singh said.
He further stated that this is a historic event and there will be many more opportunities in the future to do politics on various issues.
“Opposition parties need to understand the difference between a constitutional session and a social gathering. A session has not been called in Parliament, it is just the inaugural ceremony,” Rajnath Singh said.
His remarks come after at least 21 opposition parties decided to boycott the prime minister’s decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony in place of President Draupadi Murmu.
The opposition said the inauguration of the building without President Draupadi Murmu “insults the high office of the president and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution”.
Meanwhile, amid the boycott call from the opposition, the Center has received a confirmed list of 25 political parties, including some that are not part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), that will take part in the inauguration ceremony.
Besides the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), several NDA parties including AIADMK, Apna Dal, Republican Party of India, Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, NPP and NPF have confirmed their attendance at the ceremony on Sunday.
Several neutral parties, including Biju Janata Dal, TDP and YSRCP will be present for the inauguration.
Among the opposition parties, Shiromani Akali Dal and Bahujan Samajwadi Party and JDS will attend the ceremony on Sunday.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)