NCP says not inviting President to Parliament inauguration 'insult' to democracy; to skip event

The Nationalist Congress party (NCP) on Wednesday said not inviting President Droupadi Murmu for the new Parliament building inauguration ceremony is an insult of the country's democratic traditions, and announced that the party would skip the event scheduled to take place on May 28.

The Sharad Pawar-led party asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to follow Article 79 of the Constitution and personally request President Murmu to inaugurate the new Parliament building.

As many as 19 parties, including the Congress, Left, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Wednesday announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by PM Modi, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out".

In a statement, NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto said the president is the constitutional head of the country, therefore is it Murmu's right to inaugurate the new complex.

Talking to reporters, NCP's chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said the BJP was trying to undermine the office of the president by not inviting Murmu to inaugurate the new Parliament building.

"The BJP is clearly trying to project PM Modi's image ahead of the 2024 general elections. This is an insult to the democratic traditions of the country," he alleged.

All the MPs of the NCP have voiced their displeasure towards this and decided to boycott the inaugural function, Tapase said.

"The president is the head of the government, custodian of the fundamental rights of the citizens and also the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces and hence many in the opposition feel that the president should rightfully inaugurate the new Parliament house," he added.

The NCP said its decision to boycott the May 28 event is in sync with other opposition parties like TMC, AAP, CPI(M) and CPI.