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

Digital Desk: The Congress escalated its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, claiming that "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" denied the first tribal woman president the constitutional right to dedicate the complex.

Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of Congress, claimed that the Modi government's "arrogance" had "destroyed" the parliamentary system." Mr. Modi, Parliament is the temple of democracy built by the people. The first component of Parliament is the President's office. Your government's arrogance has damaged the parliamentary system," Kharge tweeted in Hindi. 

The Congress president asked, "What do you want to show by taking away the right of the President of India to inaugurate the Parliament House?" "140 crore Indians want to know." 

The criticism by the Congress comes a day after up to 20 opposition parties declared their intention to skip Modi's inauguration of the new Parliament building.

The boycott was simultaneously announced by 19 opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP, and AAP. They claimed there is no point in constructing a new structure when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out." Separately, AIMIM head Asaduddin Owaisi declared that his party would not attend the new Parliament building's inauguration if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla did not do so.

"Yesterday, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the country's largest judicial campus at the Jharkhand High Court complex in Ranchi. It is one man's ego and desire for self-promotion that has denied the first Adivasi woman President her Constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28th," In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.

"Ashoka the Great, Akbar the Great, Modi the Inaugurate," Ramesh said.

Also Read : Alia Bhatt-Ranveer Singh looks electrifying in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani’s first look: Fans say, " They are Fire"

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance launched a scathing reply after the opposition called for a boycott, labelling the opposition position a "blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation."

The new Parliament building's inauguration by Prime Minister Modi alone, "completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu," they claimed in a joint statement, "is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy that demands a commensurate response."