Page 87 - Parliament

An increasing divide

Boycotting new parliament's inauguration is unfortunate

BJP urges oppn parties to show 'big heart', attend new Parliament event

The Opposition on Thursday stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, with the Congress saying "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex. As the political row over the opening of the building here on Sunday escalated, the BJP hit back alleging that the opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration just because it has been built at the initiative of Prime Minister Modi. The BJP also appealed to the opposition parties to attend the "historic day" of its inauguration by showing "big heart". As many as 20 opposition parties including the Congress have announced their boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Modi. On the other hand, 25 parties have said they will participate in the inauguration and these include seven non-NDA parties. The BSP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), L

Morning havan, multi-religion prayer to precede Parliament inauguration

The ceremony to inaugurate the new Parliament building will begin with an early morning havan and a multi-religion prayer on Sunday followed by a formal opening in the Lok Sabha chamber by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Officials said the havan will be held in the Parliament premises outside the new building around 7 a.m. where the ceremonial sceptre Sengol will be handed over to Modi by the high priests of the Shaivite order. The Sengol will be installed near the chair of the Speaker in the new Parliament building. The main function of inauguration of the new Parliament building is likely to begin on Sunday noon in the presence of the Prime Minister, former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh among others. Invitations have also been extended to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil, Congress president and leader of the opposition in the Rajya .

Around 25 parties expected to join new Parliament building inauguration

As many as 25 parties are expected to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday even as 20 Opposition parties have decided to boycott the event. Apart from the 18 members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including the BJP, seven non-NDA parties will attend the ceremony, going by their stated position on the issue which has snowballed into another political flashpoint between the ruling and opposition camps. The BSP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), YSR Congress, BJD and TDP are the seven non-NDA parties expected to be present at the event. The presence of these seven parties, which together account for 50 MPs in the Lok Sabha, will be a major relief for the BJP-led NDA. Their participation will help the NDA blunt the Opposition's charge that it is all a government event. Besides the BJP, the 18 NDA members include Shiv Sena, National People's Party, Nationalist Democra

Modi govt's arrogance has destroyed parliamentary system: Congress

The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the "arrogance" of the Modi government has "destroyed" the parliamentary system. "Mr Modi, Parliament is the temple of democracy established by the people. The office of the President is the first part of Parliament. The arrogance of your government has destroyed the parliamentary system," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi. "140 crore Indians want to know what do you want to show by taking away the right of the President of India to inaugurate the Parliament House?" the Congress chief said. The All India Adivasi Congress too accused the Modi government of "insulting" tribals by not getting Droupadi Murmu, the country's first tribal president, to ...

Plea in SC seeks inauguration of new Parliament building by President

A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha secretariat for inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu, who is the "first citizen of India and the head of the institution". The petition says the respondents--the Lok Sabha secretariat and the Union of India--are "humiliating" the president by not inviting her for the inauguration. The petition by an apex court lawyer comes amid a massive controversy over the scheduled inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. Some 20 opposition parties have decided to boycott the ceremony to protest the "sidelining" of the President. In a joint statement on Wednesday, 19 political parties said, "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out of Parliament, we find no value in a new building." The BJP-led NDA shot back, condemning the "contemptuous" decision. "This act is not merely disrespectful; it is a blatant affront to the ...

Sitharaman appeals oppn to rethink boycott of parliament innaugration

Asserting that power transfers never happen merely at the shake of hands, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday appealed to opposition parties to reconsider their decision to boycott the dedication of the new Parliament building scheduled on May 28, saying it is a "temple of democracy." Addressing reporters here, she said 20 "aadeenams" (pontiffs) from Tamil Nadu have been invited for the inauguration, where the 'Sengol' will be installed, as did in 1947 to symbolise the power transformation from the British. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the new Parliament building on Sunday. Sitharaman addressed a press conference at the Raj Bhavan here in the company of TN Governor RN Ravi, his Telangana and Nagaland counterparts, Tamilsai Soundararajan and La Ganesan, respectively, Union Minister L Murugan and TN Minister PK Sekar Babu. The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, one among the 19 opposition parties in the Centre that are boycotting the inauguration, dubbed

Opposition's boycott of Parliament inauguration insult to country: Guj CM

Gujarat Chief Minister on Thursday condemned the decision of 20 Opposition parties to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying it was an insult to the great nation and an attack on the country's democratic values. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the new Parliament building on Sunday. The Opposition parties have claimed the prime minister's decision to inaugurate it by himself, "completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response". They contend that President Murmu should do the honours as she is not only the Head of State, but also an integral part of Parliament as she summons, prorogues, and addresses it. Commenting on the issue, Gujarat CM Patel said the decision to boycott the inauguration ceremony is "highly condemnable". "This decision is not only an insult to our great nation, it is also an attack on our country's democratic values as we

Cong tucked away sacred 'Sengol' in museum, called it 'golden stick': BJP

The BJP on Thursday alleged that the Congress displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred 'Sengol' a "golden stick gifted" to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and tucking it away in a museum. The ceremonial sceptre, which will be installed in the new Parliament building, was given to Nehru to symbolise the transfer of power from the British to India in August 1947. It was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will now install the 'Sengol' "in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium", BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said, asserting that it has been given its rightful place. His remarks come a day after 20 Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party and AAP, announced to boycott the inauguration of the building on May 28 by Modi. They said the prime minister's decision to inaugurate it by himself, "completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct .

President's absence will amount to 'devaluing ethos of Republic': Sibal

Amid the raging row over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Thursday said the absence of the president in the ceremonial event would amount to "devaluing the ethos of our Republic". Sibal's attack on the government comes a day after as many as 20 opposition parties announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a tweet, Sibal said, "Inauguration of the new Parliament building. Parliament symbolises our Republic. The President is the head of the Republic. The absence of the President in this ceremonial event amounts to devaluing the ethos of our Republic. Does the government care!" Sibal, who was a Union minister during UPA 1 and 2, had quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support. Sibal recently floated a non-electoral platform 'Insaaf' aimed at fighting injustice. Nineteen Oppositio

Existing Parliament was a council hall: Fadnavis praises new building

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the current Parliament structure was actually a council hall and for the first time, the country will have its own full-fledged Parliament building. The senior BJP leader was speaking to reporters here, a day after as many as 20 opposition parties announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. The opposition parties have accused the BJP-led Centre of denying President Droupadi Murmu, the first Adivasi woman President, her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new Parliament building. Fadnavis said, One should not forget that the current Parliament building was actually a council hall. For the first time, India is going to have a full-fledged Parliament building. The deputy CM said there have been many instances in the past where state heads inaugurated important government buildings instead of inviting respective governors of

Modi govt's 'arrogance' has 'destroyed' parliamentary system: Congress

The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the "arrogance" of the Modi government has "destroyed" the parliamentary system "Mr. Modi, Parliament is the temple of democracy established by the people. The office of the President is the first part of Parliament. The arrogance of your government has destroyed the parliamentary system," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi. "140 crore Indians want to know what do you want to show by taking away the right of the President of India to inaugurate the Parliament House?" the Congress chief said. The Congress' attack comes a day after as many as 20 opposition parties announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by ...

If not Indian PM will Pak PM inaugurate it: Congress' Acharya Krishnan

A total of 20 opposition parties, including the Congress have announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building

PM Modi takes swipe at Opposition for boycotting Parliament inauguration

On Wednesday, the 19 like-minded parties in a joint statement said, "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building"

From Chola tradition to Jawaharlal Nehru: All you need to know about Sengol

The Sengol will be installed in the new Parliament building next to the seat of Lok Sabha speaker by PM Modi

Boycotting inauguration not in true spirit of democracy: Andhra CM

"Parliament, being the temple of democracy, reflects our nation's soul and belongs to the people of our country and all the political parties," he added

Oppn boycotting Parl inauguration blatant affront to democratic values: NDA

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance launched a sharp counterattack on Opposition parties for their decision to boycott the new Parliament building's inauguration, calling their stand a "blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation". In a statement, leaders of 14 parties of the ruling alliance also implored the opposition parties to reconsider their decision and said the people of India will not forget their "egregious insult to our democracy and to their elected representatives" if they go ahead with their stand. With Congress and several other parties claiming that the May 28 inauguration of the building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not President Droupadi Murmu is an insult to the highest constitutional office, the NDA hit back. It recalled their opposition to her presidential bid as the NDA candidate and said their "disrespect" shown towards her is a new low in political discourse. "The staunch opposition to her candidature is not

New Parliament inauguration: 75 years later, a tryst with Sengol again

Crafted in 1947, historic sceptre to take pride of place in new Parliament building

National e-Vidhan Application: What is it and why is it significant?

NeVA is transforming all state legislatures into digital Vidhan Sabha systems, allowing them to conduct all government business on the digital platform

Political spin to Parliament building inauguration as Oppn plans boycott

Nineteen parties, including Congress, Left and TMC say inauguration "undignified", insults the high office of the President; BJD, TDP, YSR Congress, and Bahujan Samaj party to attend