TMC, AAP to Boycott Inauguration of New Parliament Building

New Delhi: Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress would boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building on Delhi’s Central Vista by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. On Tuesday, the TMC became the first opposition party to take such a decision.

Later in the evening, Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP also declared that they would boycott the inauguration ceremony on account of the “insult” to President Droupadi Murmu, who was not allowed to inaugurate the building.

On Tuesday Kejriwal met Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as part of his outreach to opposition parties over the Centre’s ordinance on transfer and postings of bureaucrats in Delhi.

Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien tweeted, “Parliament is not just a new building; it is an establishment with old traditions, values, precedents and rules – it is the foundation of Indian democracy. PM Modi doesn’t get that.  For him, Sunday’s inauguration of the new building is all about I, ME, MYSELF. So count us out”.

“Not inviting Her Excellency the President Draupadi Murmu ji to the inauguration ceremony of the Parliament House is a gross insult to her. This is an insult to the Dalit tribal and deprived society of India. @AamAadmiParty will boycott the inauguration program in protest against Modi ji not inviting His Excellency the President,” AAP leader Sanjay Singh tweeted.

Several Opposition parties, including the Congress, have objected to PM Modi opening the new parliament instead of President Droupadi Murmu. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has accused the government of “repeatedly disrespecting propriety” by not inviting the President and former President to the inauguration.

The CPI and AIMIM have also criticized the government’s move.