DMK, allies to boycott new parliament building inauguration

COIMBATORE: The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has decided to boycott the inauguration of the new parliament building, scheduled for May 28.
DMK allies Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPM and CPI too have said that they are boycotting the inauguration. A total of 19 opposition parties from across the country issued a joined statement in this regard.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to inaugurate the building by himself, completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu is not only a grave insult, but a direct assault on democracy, which demands a commensurate response,’’ said the joint statement tweeted by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
DMK organising secretary R S Bharathi confirmed the decision. “Yes, we have decided to boycott the inauguration,’’ he told TOI.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge as well as Rahul Gandhi had hit out at Prime Minister Modi for not getting President Droupadi Murmu to inaugurate the building. Kharge had alleged that the BJP was using dalits and scheduled castes for its vote bank politics stating that former President Ramnath Kovind had not been invited for the foundation laying ceremony and Murmu was sidelined for the inauguration of the building.
“When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the parliament, we find no value in the building,’’ the statement said.