“Soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament”: 19 political parties to boycott inauguration

HYDERABAD: Nineteen political parties have joined hands and declared that they would not be attending the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28, 2023.

The statement released on Wednesday was signed by the Indian National Congress, DMK, AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, Communist Party of India, JMM, Kerala Congress (Mani), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, TMC, JD(U), NCP, CPI (M), Indian Muslim League, National Conference, Revolutionary Socialist Party, and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

These opposition parties have said that they were initially ready to sink differences and attend the inaugural despite the strong belief that the Narendra Modi government was threatening democracy.

“However, Prime Minister Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response,” the combined statement said explaining the reason for the boycott.

Quoting Article 79 of the Constitution of India, they said “The President is not only the head of the state of India but also an integral part of the Parliament. She summons, prorogues and addresses the parliament”. They further wrote that parliament could not function without the president.

“Yet the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the Parliament 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 reads.

The statement describing the new building as a building without its soul said that undemocratic acts were not new to the Prime Minister who relentlessly hollowed out the Parliament.

“The new Parliament building has been built at a great expense during a once-in-a-century pandemic with no consultation with the people of India or MPs for whom it is built,” the statement added.

They concluded by saying that when the soul of democracy has been sucked out of the Parliament, they find no value in the new building.