Constitution Club: BJP says it is not inauguration event

Jaipur: Two days after Speaker Vasudev Devnani invited all legislators to the "inauguration" of Constitution Club, which saw protests from opposition Congress members, BJP chief whip Jogeshwar Garg said Thursday govt is only going to "launch some new facilities" at the club when it begins functioning and that the March 8 programme is "not an inauguration".
"We will launch some new facilities at Constitution Club. It will also formally begin its operations. The opposition is trying to mislead people by claiming we are inaugurating the club again. We are not inaugurating it. There should be no controversy over this," Garg said.
The new facilities being made available at Constitution Club will include a spa, a salon and a meditation room for legislators, among other services, added Garg.
Devnani's announcement Tuesday that all MLAs should attend the inauguration of Constitution Club had triggered a political storm with Congress legislators accusing the BJP govt of trying to "reinaugurate" a facility that former chief minister Ashok Gehlot had already formally inaugurated on Sep 22, 2023.
Garg's assertion notwithstanding, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully said Congress will boycott the programme, which is to be presided over by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Saturday.
Former CM Ashok Gehlot also chimed in, appealing to Birla to reconsider attending the event.
"The position of LS Speaker is highly esteemed. Perhaps, he (Birla) was not informed that the inauguration had already taken place," Gehlot said. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra said Congress legislature party had decided to boycott the "reinauguration", calling the exercise a guise for a fresh opening of the club.
Dismissing Congress's protests, minister of state for home Jawahar Singh Bedham said,
"Before the auspicious beginning of a building, puja and havan are usually held. Why is Congress playing politics over this? It has become their habit to politicise every issue."