By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2023-05-23 08:14:10
The opposition is not wrong. It would have been gracious and politically-correct of the government to let the President - who is the highest constitutional authority and who provides the seal of authority to all decisions of the government of India - inaugurate the new Parliament building. But it is not correct on part of the opposition to think of boycotting the inauguration ceremony for this reason. A national asset has been created and the opposition, after having shown the alleged 'pettiness' of the government, must attend the ceremony in national interest.
The new Parliament building has been at the centre of a tug of war between the government and the opposition ever since the NDA government decided to take up the project. The need for a new building was not in doubt - the UPA government had also considered it without actually firming up the project. The controversy was about the cost and the timing of the project. The opposition boycotted the foundation-laying ceremony on the pretext of the pandemic and the protest by farmers. They have also been targeting the government for spending lavishly on the project.
But the opposition parties have to consider that it is not a BJP event. It is a national event. They must accord it the status it deserves and, having made their point, attend the inaugural ceremony.










