26 May,2023 05:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray (R) and Sanjay Raut (L). File Pic
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena on Friday hit out at the BJP government at the Centre for not inviting President Droupadi Murmu for the upcoming inauguration of the new Parliament building, and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers the new complex his "estate" as he feels that it has been created by him.
According to news agency PTI, in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Sena (UBT) also took a dig at the BJP over this issue, and sought to know whether BJP stalwart L K Advani has been invited for the May 28 event or not.
Twenty opposition parties, including the Congress and the Sena (UBT), have announced that they would boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building at the hands of PM Modi, contending that it is the President who should do the honours.
In the mouthpiece, the Sena (UBT) said the president is the head of the country and also the first citizen of India and the position should be not insulted, reported PTI.
"Modi's policy is that the new Parliament building has been built by me and it is my estate. So the plaque will only have my name. This arrogance is dangerous for democracy," the party said.
The new Parliament does not belong to any party but to the country, it said, adding that BJP leaders talking about democracy was a joke.
"Has Advani, because of whom the BJP could see 'achhe din', been invited for the event?" it asked.
The Leader of Opposition enjoys equal status as the prime minister. So it would have been more graceful if the invitation letter also had the name of the LoP, it said.
"The government has given a clear message that if you come to our private party you will be insulted. 'Mindhe-Fadnavis' (Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis) like to attend such parties. Just see if there is space for Advani," it said.
It added that when the president of India has not been invited to the event, then it becomes immaterial whether anyone else is invited or not.
The ceremony to inaugurate the new Parliament building will begin with an early morning havan and a multi-religion prayer on Sunday followed by a formal opening in the Lok Sabha chamber by Prime Minister Modi.
As many as 25 parties are expected to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday even as 20 opposition parties have decided to boycott the event.
The Opposition has stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, with the Congress saying "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" has denied the first tribal woman President her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex.
The BJP has alleged that the opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration just because it has been built at the initiative of Prime Minister Modi.
The BJP also appealed to the opposition parties to attend the "historic day" of its inauguration by showing "big heart".
(With inputs from PTI)
