( Image Courtesy : The Economic Times )
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Amid the rumble around the inauguration of the New Parliament building , 19 opposition parties have declared that they would abstain from the ceremony. The abstaining parties include major opposition parties like the Indian National Congress Party, Aam Aadmi Party and Trinamool Congress Party.
The inauguration is to take place on Sunday , 28th May 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The boycotting parties issued a joint statement condemning the Prime Minister’s decision and explained the reasons for their boycott.
The opposition parties accused the Prime Minister of sidelining President Murmu by inaugurating the new Parliament building himself. They said that the decision is a direct attack on the nation’s democratic spirit and a grave insult that demands a proportional response.
The Opposing Parties
( Image Courtesy : The Indian Express )
Most of the major opposition parties in the nation found common ground in opposing the inauguration of the new Parliament building by the Prime Minister. The boycotting parties include -:
Indian National Congress , All India Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India, Dravida Munnetra kazhagam, Janata Dal ( United ), Samajwadi party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Indian Union Muslim League, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha,Kerala Congress (M), Revolutionary Socialist Party, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi , Shiv Sena, Aam Aadmi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi led by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, confirmed that his party would be boycotting the inauguration but did not take part in the joint statement.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary K C Venugopal deliberated with other opposition party leaders on Tuesday to understand their opinions before issuing the joint statement.
Reconsider the Boycott
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The Minister for Parliamentary affairs Mr. Prahlad Joshi said that the opposing parties were trying to create an issue where it is normal for the Prime Minister to inaugurate buildings , as he has done near Parliament premises.
He said that the actions of the opposition parties are unfortunate and that he has urged the 19 boycotting parties to reconsider their decision.He added that the attempt to politicize every event would leave a bad precedent.
The Minister of Urban affairs and former foreign service officer Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri commented that Indira Gandhi had inagurated the parliament annexe while Prime Minister and Rajiv gandhi did the same by laying the foundation of the Parliament library.
The Old Parliament House
( Image Courtesy : The Hindu )
The grand structure in the heart of Lutyens delhi was built in 1927 by English architects Edward Lutyens and Herbert Baker to house the Imperial Legislative Council.It was designed between 1912 and 1913. Construction started at 1920 and was completed in 1927. Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught and Stethern laid the foundation stone for the building.
It is circular in shape surrounded by 144 columns outside. The Parliament house consists of 3 chambers and 4 floors. The chambers are semicircular in shape , housing the Lok Sabha or the House of the People, the Rajya Sabha or the House of States and the Central Hall. The erstwhile Chamber of Princes is now used as the Library Hall.
After the inauguration of the new Parliament house as a part of the Central Vista project, the old Parliament will be turned into the Museum of Democracy.It has been said by officials that the ground and first floors will house the Museum of Democracy and both the chambers of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha would be open to the Public.
The New Parliament House
( Image Courtesy : Hindusthan Times )
Considering the need for accommodating the growing Legislature and executive, the proposals for a new Parliament building emerged in 2010.The Cabinet of The Union government at the time of independence included 15 members while today there are 77 members.This increased strength of Cabinet as well as other Parliamentary committees have been taken into consideration while building the new Parliament.
The new Parliament house features state-of-the-art technology and amenities.Spread over an area of 64,500 sq. M, it can house about 880 members in the Lok Sabha and 300 in the Rajya Sabha.One noted feature is that the building does not have a Central Hall unlike its predecessor and thus the Joint sessions of Parliament would take place in the Lok Sabha chamber itself.
