At a time when 19 opposition parties have given a call to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by the Prime Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned the move and said he would attend the event. The Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief said the opposition should praise the BJP government for forming a new parliament in record time.
“If I was in Delhi, I would definitely attend the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building, but I have a function to attend. The opposition should praise the government for building the new parliament in record time, while they Criticize. I am strict.” against the opposition boycotting it,” Ghulam Nabi Azad, head of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party.
“We dreamed of it (building a new parliament) 30-35 years ago when I was the Parliamentary Affairs Minister. The then prime minister Narasimha Rao, Shivraj Patil and I discussed the project and in fact, even prepared a blueprint for it. Done. Purpose. We couldn’t do it then, but now it’s being built. It’s a good thing,” he said.
He also highlighted the need for a new building as the number of MPs has “almost doubled” in the last 75 years (of independence) given the five-fold increase in population.
Azad further said that a new Parliament building was important and inevitable. He congratulated the present government for completing the project in record time.
“It is not easy to form a parliament within this period,” he said, adding that the opposition should appreciate the move instead of condemning it.
Azad also said that it does not matter whether the Prime Minister or the President inaugurates the new building.
“It is not that the President is not chosen by the BJP. If you (Opposition) are so pro-President (Murmu) then why did you field your presidential candidate against him?” Azad said.
Controversy over the new Parliament House
Opposition parties issued a joint statement saying that they will not attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building by PM Modi. In a joint statement, 19 opposition parties including Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiv Sena (UBT), Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Janata Dal (United) announced that they would boycott the inauguration of the new parliament. May 28 build
The opposition regarded the move as a move that sidelined the President and they issued a joint statement saying, “… PM Modi’s move to inaugurate the new Parliament building”, President Draupadi Murmu, To be sidelined is not only a grave affront, but a direct assault on our democracy that demands a similar response.”
Meanwhile, the BJP accused the Congress of indulging in “cheap politics” and stoking an unwanted controversy.