Opposition boycotting inauguration attempt to create controversy: Yogi

LUCKNOW : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday hit out at Opposition parties for boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying they were making a “disgusting” attempt to create a controversy.

His remarks came a day after 20 Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party and AAP, announced a boycott of the inauguration of the building on May 28 by Prime Minister Narendra 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 assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response”.

The chief minister said this is not the first time that a prime minister is becoming a “sakshi” (witness) to an inauguration in the Parliament complex. Earlier, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament annexe and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had laid the foundation stone of the Parliament library, Adityanath said.

On the boycott announcement, he said, “In the history of independent India, the date of May 28 is going to be registered as a glorious day when the prime minister will gift the new Parliament building to the nation.” “This will be a historic moment. Instead of making this moment dignified and glorious, the statements coming from Congress and other opposition parties are saddening and irresponsible. This is weakening democracy,” the chief minister said in the video he shared on his official Twitter handle.

He said people in the country and in the world are proud of “India being the biggest democracy”, and PM Modi has given a new identity to the country. On

the Opposition’s stand, CM said, “Disgusting attempts are made to make a controversy on the glorious moment. I think the country will not accept such

things. The new Parliament building has been made keeping a visionary approach in mind... today’s need and vision for the next 100 years.”